Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Jamie Oliver Ultimate black daal ultra-processed?

250 g Lentils Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Jamie Oliver Ultimate black daal

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:

  • 43 ingredients
  • 4 additives
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed lentils

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

Black Lentils 50% (Black Lentils, Water), Water, Tomato Sauce (Plum, Tomatoes, Sunflower Oil, Onion, Sugar, Salt, Basil), Cream 5% (Cream, Stabiliser (Carrageenan)), Sunflower Oil, Spices 1.7% (Garam Massala, Garlic, Ginger, Coriander, Chilli, Black Pepper, Cinnamon), Mustard (Water, Vinegar, Mustard Seeds, Natural Flavouring, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Antioxidant (Potassium Bisulphite), Spice), Salt, Natural Flavouring, Coriander, Thickener (Guar Gum), Cumin 0.02%, Fennel Seeds

Additives: E228 Potassium bisulphite , E330 Citric acid , E407 Carrageenan , E412 Guar gum

As written on the pack

Pre-Cooked Whole Black Lentils (50%) (Black Lentils, Water), Water, Tomato Sauce (Plum and Concentrated Tomatoes, Sunflower Oil, Onion, Sugar, Salt, Basil), Cream (5%) (Cream (Milk), Stabiliser: Carrageenan), Sunflower Oil, Spices (1.7%) (Garam Massala, Garlic, Ginger, Coriander, Chilli, Black Pepper, Cinnamon), Wholegrain Mustard (Water, Vinegar, Mustard Seeds, Natural Flavouring, Salt, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid, Antioxidant: Potassium Bisulphite, Spice), Salt, Natural Flavouring (contains Celery), Coriander, Thickener: Guar Gum, Cumin (0.02%), Fennel Seeds

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.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E412 Guar gum Guar gum is a thickener ground from the seeds of the guar plant.
  • 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.
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.

  • 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.
  • Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 69 lentils

From least to most processed, this one ranks 68th. 35% of the lentils 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 69 lentils, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5030101024679, last edited 27 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of B (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.