Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Merchant Gourmet Fragrant Peruvian-Style Rice & Quinoa ultra-processed?

Quinoa Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Merchant Gourmet Fragrant Peruvian-Style Rice & Quinoa

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:

  • 18 ingredients
  • No additives
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed quinoa

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

long grain rice 63% (water, long grain rice), Red Quinoa 34% (water, red quinoa), seasoning 1.5% (potato maltodextrin, spices (turmeric, Cayenne pepper, white pepper), onion, yeast extract powder, flavouring), Rapeseed oil, salt, lime leaves

As written on the pack

Cooked long grain rice (63%) (water, long grain rice) cooked Red Quinoa (34%) (water, red quinoa), seasoning (1.5%), (potato maltodextrin, spices(turmeric, Cayenne pepper, white pepper), onion powder, yeast extract powder, flavouring),Rapeseed oil, salt, lime leaves

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.

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.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
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

Among 35 quinoa

From least to most processed, this one ranks 30th. 17% of the quinoa 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 35 quinoa, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5056215600004, 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 B (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.