Is it ultra-processed?
Menu

Is Linda McCartney's Vegetarian Tomato & Basil Meatballs ultra-processed?

202 g Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Linda McCartney's Vegetarian Tomato & Basil Meatballs

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:

  • 12 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score A

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Rehydrated extured pea protein 57%, tomato purée 11%, rapeseed oil, onion, chickpea flour, stabiliser (methyl cellulose), red wine, basil, salt, natural flavouring, black pepper

Additives: E461 Methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

Rehydrated extured pea protein (57%), tomato purée (11%), rapeseed oil, onion, chickpea flour, stabiliser: methyl cellulose; red wine, basil, salt, natural flavouring, black pepper.

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.

  • E461 Methyl cellulose 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.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
1 ingredient 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.

How the NOVA groups work

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5056053304812, 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 A (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.