Is Specially Selected Cold Smoked Atlantic Salmon ultra-processed?

3 oz Smoked salmons Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
E161j Astaxanthin
E325 Sodium lactate

7 ingredients
2 additives
Nutri-Score E

Less processed smoked salmons

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

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Astaxanthin (ultra-processing marker), Salt (processing marker), Sodium Lactate (ultra-processing marker), Natural Flavors (ultra-processing marker), Beechwood Smoke

Additives: E161j Astaxanthin , E325 Sodium lactate

As written on the pack

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Astaxanthin, Salt, Sodium Lactate, Natural Flavors, Beechwood Smoke

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.

E161j Astaxanthin A food additive authorised for industrial food production.
E325 Sodium lactate Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

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 41 smoked salmons

From least to most processed, this one ranks 40th. 17% of the smoked salmons 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 41 smoked salmons, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4099100032741, last edited 8 June 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.