Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Morrisons BRITISH DRY CURED HAM no added water Rea ultra-processed?

Hams Sold in the United Kingdom

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:

  • 19 ingredients
  • 7 additives

Less processed hams

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

Dry cured formed ham from selected cuts of pork legs, cooked with the bone and sliced, 380ge Ingredients Pork, Salt, potassium lactate, sodium acetates, sodium nitrate, Brown sugar, Dried glucose syrup, Sugar, triphosphates, diphosphates, polyphosphates, Spirit vinegar, sodium ascorbate, Warning Although every care has been taken to remove bone, some may remain, Nutrition Typical values Energy per 100g per slice (approx)

Additives: E251 Sodium nitrate , E262 Sodium acetates , E301 Sodium ascorbate , E326 Potassium lactate , E450 Diphosphates , E451 Triphosphates , E452 Polyphosphates

As written on the pack

Dry cured formed ham from selected cuts of pork legs, cooked with the bone and sliced. 380ge Ingredients Pork, Salt, Preservatives (potassium lactate, sodium acetates, sodium nitrate), Brown sugar, Dried glucose syrup, Sugar, Stabilisers (triphosphates, diphosphates, polyphosphates), Spirit vinegar, Antioxidant (sodium ascorbate). Prepared with 108g of pork per 100g of finished product. Warning Although every care has been taken to remove bone, some may remain. Nutrition Typical values Energy per 100g per slice (approx. 38g) 559kJ/

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.

  • E326 Potassium lactate Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.
  • E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
  • E451 Triphosphates 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.
  • E452 Polyphosphates 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.

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.

  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • Glucose syrup Glucose syrup is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
4 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • E251 Sodium nitrate Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • Prepared meats Products in the category "Prepared meats" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 223 hams

From least to most processed, this one ranks 208th. 65% of the hams 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 223 hams, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5010525118307, last edited 3 September 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • 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.