Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Huel Instant Meals - Mexican Chilli ultra-processed?

1 pouch Cereal grains Sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France

Pack of Huel Instant Meals - Mexican Chilli

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 54 ingredients
  • 3 additives

Less processed cereal grains

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Flaxseed, Dried Grains 17% (Brown Rice, Quinoa), Pea Protein, Black Beans 11%, Tomato 10%, Dried Vegetables 7% (Bell Pepper, Tomato, Onion), Mexican Style Chilli Natural Flavouring 3.5%, Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Corn Starch, Sunflower Oil, Medium-Chain Triglycerides Powder (from Coconut), Micronutrient Blend, Salt, Chipotle Chilli 0.7%, Coriander 0.6%, Colour (of Radish, Carrot), Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid), Nicotinamide, Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopheryl), Lutein, Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Lycopene, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium-L-Methylfolate, Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), Zeaxanthin, Potassium Iodide, Plant-Derived Vitamin D3, vitamins, vitamin D2, Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin)

Additives: E160d Lycopene , E161b Lutein , E161h Zeaxanthin

As written on the pack

Flaxseed, Dried Grains (17%) (Brown Rice, Quinoa), Pea Protein, Dried Black Beans (11%), Tomato Powder (10%), Dried Vegetables (7%) (Bell Pepper, Tomato, Onion), Mexican Style Chilli Natural Flavouring (3.5%), Rice Flour, Rice Starch, Corn Starch, Sunflower Oil Powder, Medium-Chain Triglycerides Powder (from Coconut), *Micronutrient Blend, Salt, Chipotle Chilli Flakes (0.7%), Dried Coriander (0.6%), Colour (Concentrate of Radish and Carrot). *Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Citrate, Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid), Nicotinamide, Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopheryl), Lutein, Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Lycopene, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin A (as Retinyl Acetate), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium-L-Methylfolate, Vitamin K2 (as Menaquinone-7), Zeaxanthin, Potassium Iodide, Plant-Derived Vitamin D3, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin).

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E160d Lycopene Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
  • E161b Lutein Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
  • E161h Zeaxanthin Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
4 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 564 cereal grains

From least to most processed, this one ranks 546th. 25% of the cereal grains here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 564 cereal grains, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060495115585, last edited 13 March 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.