Is Marks & Spencer M&S Cordial: Fragrant British Elderflower ultra-processed?

Cordials Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring

8 ingredients
2 additives

Less processed cordials

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

Spring Water Sugar Lemon Juice From Concentrate, Elderflower Infusion (Water, Elderflowers Acid (Citric Acid, Preservative (processing marker)), e223), Natural Flavourings (ultra-processing marker)

Additives: E223 Sodium metabisulphite , E330 Citric acid

As written on the pack

Spring Water Sugar Lemon Juice From Concentrate. Elderflower Infusion (Water. Elderflowers Acid: Citric Acid. Preservative: E223 (Sulphites)) (11%) Natural Flavourings.

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.

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.

Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 28 cordials

From least to most processed, this one ranks 9th. 75% of the cordials 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 28 cordials, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 29234448, 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.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.