Is it ultra-processed?
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Is ICA Basic Ost och skinka ultra-processed?

140 g Ham and cheese sandwiches Sold in Sweden

Pack of ICA Basic Ost och skinka

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:

  • 39 ingredients
  • 6 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed cheese sandwiches

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

Sandwichbröd (vetemjöl, vatten, maltade vetekärnor, jäst, vetemjöl, salt, vete, gluten, emulgeringsmedel (e472e), socker, konserveringsmedel (e282), bovetemjöl, solrosolja), skinka 18% (skinka från gris, salt, druvsocker, naturliga aromer, antioxidationsmedel (e301), konserveringsmedel (e250)), majonnäs 16% (solrosolja, vatten, ägg, vinäger, citronjuice, salt, socker, förtjockningsmedel (e415), naturlig arom, konserveringsmedel (e202)), edamerost 16%

Additives: E202 Potassium sorbate , E250 Sodium nitrite , E282 Calcium propionate , E301 Sodium ascorbate , E415 Xanthan gum , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

Sandwichbröd (vetemjöl, vatten, maltade vetekärnor, jäst, maltat vetemjöl, salt, rostat vete, gluten, emulgeringsmedel (E472e), socker, konserveringsmedel (E282), bovetemjöl, solrosolja), skinka 18 % (skinka från gris, salt, druvsocker, naturliga aromer, antioxidationsmedel (E301), konserveringsmedel (E250)), majonnäs 16 % (solrosolja, vatten, ägg, vinäger, citronjuice, salt, socker, förtjockningsmedel (E415), naturlig arom (senap), konserveringsmedel (E202)), edamerost 16 %.

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.

  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Thickener Thickeners, often gums or modified starches, make liquids more viscous so that a product feels richer than its ingredients alone would make it.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
9 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.

  • E202 Potassium sorbate Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • E250 Sodium nitrite Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sandwiches Products in the category "Sandwiches" are at least group 3.
  • Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 8 ham and cheese sandwiches

From least to most processed, this one ranks 5th. 88% of the ham and cheese sandwiches 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 8 ham and cheese sandwiches, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 7318690183778, last edited 2 April 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of D (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.