Is Nesquik Chocolate Syrup ultra-processed?

22 oz (1 lb 6 oz / 623.6 g) Flavoured syrups Sold in the United States and Bolivia

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
E415 Xanthan gum

10 ingredients
2 additives

Less processed flavoured syrups

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

sugar (processing marker), water, Facts COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKA LESS THAN 2% OF CARAMEL container COLOR, salt (processing marker), natural flavor (ultra-processing marker), citric acid, POTASSIUM SORBATE sp (preservative (processing marker)), xanthan gum (ultra-processing marker), Nesquik Syrup

Additives: E330 Citric acid , E415 Xanthan gum

As written on the pack

SUGAR, WATER, Facts COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKA LESS THAN 2% OF CARAMEL container COLOR, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE sp (20g) (PRESERVATIVE), XANTHAN GUM. Nesquik Syrup

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.

E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

3 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.

Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 46 flavoured syrups

From least to most processed, this one ranks 24th. 67% of the flavoured syrups 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 46 flavoured syrups, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0028000245009, 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.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.