Is M&S Chicken Shawarma ultra-processed?

400g Microwave meals Sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Gluten

29 ingredients
No additives
Nutri-Score A

Less processed microwave meals

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

Chicken Breast 22%, Bulgur Wheat, Red 400 ge, Peppers 13%, Red Onions 8%, Water Dark Speckled Lentils (contain Wheat, Gluten (ultra-processing marker)), Onions Rapeseed Oil, Honey Lemon Juice, Yogurt, Low Fat Yogurt, Tomato Paste Lemon Zest, Spices (Coriander Smoked Paprika, Cumin, Turmeric, Coriander Roasted Cumin, Black Pepper Cinnamon, Mace Roasted Green Cardamom Seeds Ginger, Cloves Fennel Nutmeg), Garlic Purée Cornflour, Coriander Smoked Water, Reduced Sodium Salt, Sherry Vinegar Cumin " Seeds Ginger Purée, Mint Salt Whole Black, Cardamom Seeds, " Oregano Guajillo Chilli Flakes Dried Chillies, Bay Leaves

As written on the pack

Cooked Chicken Breast (22%), Bulgur Wheat (contains Gluten) (18%) Red 400 ge • Peppers (13%) Red Onions (8%) Water Dark Speckled Lentils (contain Wheat, Gluten) (5%). Onions Rapeseed Oil - Honey Lemon Juice. . Yogurt (Milk) Low Fat Yogurt (Milk). Tomato Paste Lemon Zest. Ground Spices (Coriander Smoked Paprika · Cumin. Turmeric Roasted • Coriander Roasted Cumin. Black Pepper Cinnamon. Mace Roasted Green Cardamom Seeds Ginger. Cloves Fennel Nutmeg). Garlic Purée Cornflour. Coriander Smoked Water. Reduced Sodium Salt. Sherry Vinegar Cumin " Seeds Ginger Purée. Mint Salt Whole Black . Cardamom Seeds. " Oregano Guajillo Chilli Flakes Dried Chillies. Ground Bay Leaves. For allergens see ingredients in bold.

What makes it ultra-processed

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.

Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.

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.

Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 350 microwave meals

From least to most processed, this one ranks 112th. 72% of the microwave meals 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 350 microwave meals, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 29388660, 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.