Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Sainsbury's taste the difference Matured Mincemeat ultra-processed?

411g Sweet spreads Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Sainsbury's taste the difference Matured Mincemeat

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:

  • 48 ingredients
  • 4 additives

Less processed sweet spreads

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, Currants 16% (Currants, Sunflower Oil), Raisins 7% (Raisins, Sunflower Oil), Apricot Puree 6%, Apple Pulp 6% (Apple Pulp, Preservative (Acetic Acid)), Apple Puree 6% (Apple Puree, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid)), Sultanas 6% (Sultanas, Sunflower Oil), Brandy 6%, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Candied Mixed Citrus Peel (Orange Peel, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Lemon Peel, Sugar, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)), Vegetable Suet (Palm Oil, Rice Flour, Sunflower Oil), Maize Starch, Cinnamon, Preservative (Acetic Acid), Ginger, Colour (Plain Caramel), Spices, Citric Acid, Safety (Although extra care 1307825 has been taken to remove all fruit stalks and stones), some may remain, The palm oil used in this product is certified sustainable from well managed plantations, Together we can protect the world's forests and avoid deforestation, The colouring used in this product is sourced from natural sources, CAP ON RINSE JAR Recycle CAP Recycle 06.23 80007337 H0276 0130 7825

Additives: E150a Plain caramel , E260 Acetic acid , E300 Ascorbic acid , E330 Citric acid

As written on the pack

Sugar, Currants (16%) (Currants, Sunflower Oil), Raisins (7%) (Raisins, Sunflower Oil), Apricot Puree (6%), Apple Pulp (6%) (Apple Pulp, Preservative Acetic Acid), Apple Puree (6%) (Apple Puree, Antioxidant: Ascorbic Acid), Sultanas (6%) (Sultanas, Sunflower Oil), Brandy (6%), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Candied Mixed Citrus Peel (Orange Peel, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Lemon Peel, Sugar, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid), Vegetable Suet (Palm Oil, Rice Flour, Sunflower Oil), Maize Starch, Cinnamon, Preservative: Acetic Acid; Ginger, Colour: Plain Caramel; Spices, Citric Acid. Safety: Although extra care 1307825 has been taken to remove all fruit stalks and stones, some may remain. The palm oil used in this product is certified sustainable from well managed plantations. Together we can protect the world's forests and avoid deforestation. The colouring used in this product is sourced from natural sources. CAP ON RINSE JAR Recycle CAP Recycle 06.23 80007337 H0276 0130 7825

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.

  • E150a Plain caramel Plain caramel is a brown colour made by heating sugars.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.

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.
  • Fructose Fructose is the sugar found naturally in fruit and honey, but as an ingredient it is refined industrially, mostly from corn starch.
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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable fat Vegetable fats are oils that are solid at room temperature, such as palm or coconut fat.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 671 sweet spreads

From least to most processed, this one ranks 632nd. 68% of the sweet spreads 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 671 sweet spreads, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 01307825, last edited 5 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.