Is Near East COUSCOUS MIX Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil ultra-processed?

5.8 oz Durum wheat semolinas for couscous Sold in the United States and Spain

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring

18 ingredients
1 additive
Nutri-Score D

Less processed durum wheat semolinas for couscous

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

couscous (wheat), autolyzed yeast extract, olive oil (processing marker), salt (processing marker), garlic, onions, soy protein isolate, parsley, yeast extract, natural flavor (ultra-processing marker), white pepper, tocopherols (preservative (processing marker)), soy sauce (processing marker) (soybean, wheat, salt (processing marker))

Additives: E306 Tocopherol-rich extract

As written on the pack

couscous (wheat), autolyzed yeast extract, olive oil, salt, garlic, onions, soy protein isolate, parsley, yeast extract, natural flavor, white pepper, tocopherols (preservative), soy sauce (soybean, wheat, salt),

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.

5 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.

Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 25 durum wheat semolinas for couscous

From least to most processed, this one ranks 17th. 36% of the durum wheat semolinas for couscous 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 25 durum wheat semolinas for couscous, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0072251001556, last edited 2 September 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 D (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.