Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Salted caramel ultra-processed?

Caramels Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Salted caramel

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:

  • 17 ingredients
  • 2 additives
  • Nutri-Score E

Less processed caramels

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

Partially AN EGETARY inverted refiners syrup, sweetened condensed V skimmed milk (skimmed milk, sugar, lactose), IENDLY water, double cream, maltodextrin, salted butter (butter, salt), acidity regulator (tri sodium citrate), sea salt 0.38%, gelling agent (pectin), packed in the uk

Additives: E331 Sodium citrates , E440 Pectins

As written on the pack

Partially AN EGETARY inverted refiners syrup, sweetened condensed V skimmed milk (skimmed milk, sugar, lactose),IENDLY water, double cream (milk), maltodextrin, salted butter (butter (milk), salt), acidity regulator (tri sodium citrate), sea salt (0.38%), gelling agent (pectin). For allergens see ingredients in bold. PACKED IN THE UK

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.

  • E440 Pectins Pectins are gelling agents extracted from citrus peel or apple pomace.
  • Gelling agent Gelling agents such as pectin, gelatine or carrageenan set liquids into gels and stabilise textures.

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.

  • Lactose Lactose is milk sugar, crystallised industrially from whey, a by-product of cheese making.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
4 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.

  • Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 12 caramels

From least to most processed, this one ranks 8th. 83% of the caramels 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 12 caramels, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060081114718, last edited 18 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of E (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.