Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Specially Selected Spicy Spanish Chorizo Ring ultra-processed?

Chorizos Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Specially Selected Spicy Spanish Chorizo Ring

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:

  • 14 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score E

Less processed chorizos

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

pork, Salt, Lactose, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Purée, Cayenne Pepper, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Cumin, Oregano, Filled into Natural Pork Casing, Surface Treatment (Preservative (Natamycin))

Additives: E235 Natamycin

As written on the pack

PORK, Salt, Lactose (Milk), Smoked Paprika Powder, Garlic Purée, Cayenne Pepper, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Cumin Powder, Oregano. Filled into Natural Pork Casing. Surface Treatment: Preservative (Natamycin). MADE WITH 131g OF RAW PORK PER 100g OF FINISHED PRODUCT. ALLERGY ADVICE:

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.

  • Dextrose Dextrose is pure glucose crystallised from starch-derived syrup.
  • Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
  • 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.
3 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.

  • Prepared meats Products in the category "Prepared meats" are at least group 3.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 26 chorizos

From least to most processed, this one ranks 20th. 65% of the chorizos 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 26 chorizos, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4088600398365, last edited 24 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.
  • 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.