Is Specially Selected Plain Ciabatta ultra-processed?

300g Breads 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:

Gluten

9 ingredients
1 additive
Nutri-Score C

Less processed breads

Crafted Signature Sourdough Bread Marks & Spencer 7 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
Slow Fermented White Sourdough Toastie Loaf Co-op Irresistible 9 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
Rye sourdough flatbread - M&S Food Marks & Spencer 7 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1
Spelt Sourdough Bread Waitrose 8 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 1

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

Wheat Flour, Water, Wheat Gluten (ultra-processing marker), Ethyl Alcohol, extra virgin olive oil (processing marker) 1.5%, Salt (processing marker), Yeast, Rye Sourdough, Malted Wheat Flour

Additives: E1510 Ethanol

As written on the pack

Wheat Flour, Water, Wheat Gluten, Ethyl Alcohol, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL (1.5%), Salt, Yeast, Dried Rye Sourdough Powder, Malted Wheat Flour.

What makes it ultra-processed

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.

Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.

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.

Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 2,388 breads

From least to most processed, this one ranks 886th. 71% of the breads 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 2,388 breads, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4088600253909, last edited 5 May 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 C (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.