Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Jongga Naturally Fermented Kimchi ultra-processed?

42.3oz (1.2kg) Cabbages Sold in the United States

Pack of Jongga Naturally Fermented Kimchi

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:

  • 22 ingredients
  • 1 additive

Less processed cabbages

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

napa cabbage, radish, rice paste (rice, water), salt, red pepper, garlic, kelp base sauce (kelp, sorbitol), chives, korean leek, fermented anchovy sauce (anchovy, salt), onion, fermented shrimp sauce (shrimp, salt), lactic acid bacteria, shrimp

Additives: E420 Sorbitol

As written on the pack

NAPA CABBAGE, RADISH, RICE PASTE (RICE POWDER, WATER), SALT, RED PEPPER POWDER, GARLIC, KELP BASE SAUCE(KELP EXTRACT, SORBITOL), CHIVES, KOREAN LEEK, FERMENTED ANCHOVY SAUCE (ANCHOVY, SALT), ONION, FERMENTED SHRIMP SAUCE (SHRIMP, SALT), LACTIC ACID BACTERIA, GINGER CONTAINS FISH(ANCHOVY), SHRIMP

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.

  • E420 Sorbitol Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and to keep products moist.
2 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.
  • Microbial culture Microbial cultures ferment foods such as yoghurt, cheese and sourdough.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 12 cabbages

From least to most processed, this one ranks 10th. 33% of the cabbages 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 12 cabbages, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0887267000017, last edited 9 April 2025), 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.