Is Marks & Spencer M&S Bao Buns ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- E450 Diphosphates
- E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
- E481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
- 17 ingredients
- 3 additives
- Nutri-Score C
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
Wheatflour, Water, Sugar Wheat Starch, Cornflour, Yeast, Wheat Gluten Soya Flour Vegetable Oil (Sunflower Vegetable Oil (processing marker), Rapeseed Vegetable Oil), Raising Agent (e450 (ultra-processing marker)), Sodium, Bicarbonate, Calcium Phosphates Emulsifier (e481 (ultra-processing marker)), e472e (ultra-processing marker), Lipase Salt Trehalose, Trehalose is a source of glucose
Additives: E450 Diphosphates , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate
As written on the pack
Wheatflour (contains Gluten) - Water - Sugar Wheat Starch (contains Gluten) Cornflour • Dried Yeast. Wheat Gluten Soya Flour Vegetable Oil (Sunflower/Rapeseed) Raising Agent: E450, Sodium . . Bicarbonate, Calcium Phosphates Emulsifier: E481, E472e. Lipase Salt Trehalose*. . *Trehalose is a source of glucose.
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.
- E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
- E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids 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.
- E481 Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate 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.
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.
- Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 29320011, 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 C (from A, best, to E).
- General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.