Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ovaltine Rich Chocolate Mix ultra-processed?

1.12 lb Instant beverages Sold in the United States

Pack of Ovaltine Rich Chocolate Mix

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:

  • 29 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed instant beverages

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, cocoa processed with alkali, beet juice color, whey, caramel color, natural flavor, carrageenan, soy lecithin, salt, vitamins, minerals (calcium carbonate), magnesium hydroxide, vitamin c (sodium ascorbate), ferric orthophosphate (iron), zinc sulfate, vitamin e acetate, niacinamide, copper gluconate, vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin b1 (thiamine hydrochloride), vitamin a palmitate, biotin, vitamin d3, ingredients

Additives: E150c Ammonia caramel , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E407 Carrageenan

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E150c Ammonia caramel.

As written on the pack

SUGAR, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, BEET JUICE COLOR, WHEY, CARAMEL COLOR, NATURAL FLAVOR, CARRAGEENAN, SOY LECITHIN, SALT. VITAMINS AND MINERALS: CALCIUM CARBONATE, MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE, VITAMIN C (SODIUM ASCORBATE), FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), ZINC SULFATE, VITAMIN E ACETATE, NIACINAMIDE, COPPER GLUCONATE, VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, BIOTIN, VITAMIN D3. CONTAINS: MILK AND SOY INGREDIENTS. MAY CONTAIN WHEAT.

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.

  • E150c Ammonia caramel Ammonia caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars with ammonia compounds.
  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • 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.

  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
2 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.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 197 instant beverages

From least to most processed, this one ranks 156th. 57% of the instant beverages 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 197 instant beverages, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0751746032182, last edited 22 April 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.