Is Smash The Original Instant Mashed Potatoes ultra-processed?

360g Instant mashed potatoes Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

E450 Diphosphates
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

7 ingredients
4 additives

Less processed instant mashed potatoes

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

Potato 98%, Salt (processing marker), mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (ultra-processing marker), Diphosphates (ultra-processing marker), Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Bisulphite

Additives: E222 Sodium bisulphite , E300 Ascorbic acid , E450 Diphosphates , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

Dehydrated Potato (98%), Salt, Emulsifier (Mono - and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Stabiliser (Diphosphates), Antioxidants (Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Bisulphite

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.

E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.

1 ingredient 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 25 instant mashed potatoes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 12th. 76% of the instant mashed potatoes 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 25 instant mashed potatoes, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000354917431, last edited 28 August 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.