Is it ultra-processed?
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Is OXO Vegetable Stock Cube ultra-processed?

142g Bouillon cubes Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of OXO Vegetable Stock Cube

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:

  • 26 ingredients
  • 2 additives

Less processed bouillon cubes

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

For a tasty stock dissolve 1 cube in 190ml of boiling water, No artificial preservatives INGREDIENTS (greatest first, Salt), Potato Starch, Wheat Flour (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Dried Glucose Syrup, Flavour Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides), Onion Extract, Flavourings, Palm Oil, Yeast Extract, Tomato, Sugar, Herbs (Parsley, Bay, Thyme), Black Pepper Extract, including cereals containing gluten

Additives: E621 Monosodium glutamate , E635 Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide

As written on the pack

For a tasty stock dissolve 1 cube in 190ml of boiling water. No artificial preservatives INGREDIENTS (GREATEST FIRST): Salt, Potato Starch, Wheat Flour (with added Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Dried Glucose Syrup, Flavour Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides), Onion Extract, Flavourings, Palm Oil, Yeast Extract (contains Barley), Tomato Powder, Sugar, Dried Herbs (Parsley, Bay, Thyme), Black Pepper Extract. ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold.

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.

  • E621 Monosodium glutamate Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, made by fermentation and used to strengthen savoury taste.
  • E635 Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide A food additive authorised for industrial food production.
  • Flavour enhancer Flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (E621) strengthen savoury taste without adding a flavour of their own.
  • 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.

  • 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.
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.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 60 bouillon cubes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 53rd. 85% of the bouillon cubes 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 60 bouillon cubes, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000354404368, 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.