Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Lidl Mediterranean Cous Cous ultra-processed?

100g Durum wheat semolinas for couscous Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Lidl Mediterranean Cous Cous

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:

  • 21 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed durum wheat semolinas for couscous

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

Cous Cous 85% (Durum Wheat Semolina), Tomato 5%, Dried Tomato, Flavourings (contain Barley), Palm Oil, Dried Onion, Sugar, Black Olives, Salt, Herbs (Chives, Parsley, Basft), Dried Garlic, Colour (Paprika Extract), Acid (Citric Acid Allergy Advice For allergens), including Cereals containing Gluten

Additives: E160c Paprika extract

As written on the pack

85% Dried Cous Cous (Durum Wheat Semolina), 5% Tomato Powder, Dried Tomato, Flavourings (contain Barley). Palm Oil, Dried Onion, Sugar, Dried Black Olives, Salt, Dried Herbs (Chives, Parsley, Basft), Dried Garlic, Colour: Paprika Extract; Acid:Citric Acid Allergy Advice For allergens, including Cereals containing Gluten, see ingredients in bold. May also contain Egg, Milk, Mustard and Soya.

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.

  • E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
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.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 25 durum wheat semolinas for couscous

From least to most processed, this one ranks 21st. 36% of the durum wheat semolinas for couscous 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 25 durum wheat semolinas for couscous, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4056489595748, last edited 31 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.