Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ribena Winter Spice ultra-processed?

Condiments Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Ribena Winter Spice

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:

  • 23 ingredients
  • 7 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed condiments

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

Water, Blackcurrant Juice from Concentrate 18%, Acids (Malic Acid, Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Gluconate), Carrot, Hibiscus, Vitamin C, Natural Flavouring, Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulphite), Remember to add extra water if giving to toddlers, directions for use (Dilute 1 part, squash with at least 4 parts hot and cold water to give a 250ml serving Makes 17 servings, BEST BEFORE END date on cap and bottle top, storage instructions)

Additives: E202 Potassium sorbate , E222 Sodium bisulphite , E296 Malic acid , E330 Citric acid , E576 Sodium gluconate , E950 Acesulfame k , E951 Aspartame

As written on the pack

Water, Blackcurrant Juice from Concentrate (18%), Acids (Malic Acid, Citric Acid), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Gluconate), Extracts of Carrot and Hibiscus, Vitamin C, Natural Flavouring, Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulphite). Contains a source of Phenylalanine. Remember to add extra water if giving to toddlers. DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Dilute 1 part (50ml) squash with at least 4 parts hot or cold water to give a 250ml serving Makes 17 servings. BEST BEFORE END date on cap or bottle top. STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS:

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.

  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
  • E951 Aspartame Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in diet drinks and sugar-free products.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.
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.

  • E202 Potassium sorbate 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.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 3,648 condiments

From least to most processed, this one ranks 3260th. 55% of the condiments 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 3,648 condiments, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5054267003453, 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of A (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.