Is Tesco Finest Giant cous cous in a Mediterranean inspired dressing ultra-processed?

2 x 200g Prepared couscous 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:

Flavouring

30 ingredients
1 additive
Nutri-Score A

Less processed prepared couscous

Roasted Vegetable Couscous M&S 12 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Moroccan style Fruity Couscous Marks & Spencer 21 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Roasted Butternut, Lentil & Goats Cheese with a Sweet & Tangy Balsamic Dressing M&S Food 17 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Fruity Moroccan Couscous Deluxe 29 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3

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

Couscous (Couscous (Wheat), Water), Courgette, Red Pepper, Aubergine, Tomato, Red Onion, Basil, Olive Oil (processing marker), Garlic, Sugar (processing marker), Rice Flour, Tomato, Salt (processing marker), Parsley, Flavouring (ultra-processing marker), Black Pepper, Cumin, Garlic, Paprika, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Oregano, Chilli, Ginger, Basil Leaf, Clove, Rosemary

Additives: E330 Citric acid

As written on the pack

Cooked Couscous [Couscous (Wheat), Water], Courgette, Red Pepper, Aubergine, Tomato, Red Onion, Basil, Olive Oil, Garlic, Sugar, Rice Flour, Tomato Powder, Salt, Parsley, Flavouring, Black Pepper, Cumin Powder, Garlic Powder, Paprika, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Oregano, Chilli Flakes, Ginger, Basil Leaf, Clove Powder, Rosemary Powder.

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.

Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

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.

Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 16 prepared couscous

From least to most processed, this one ranks 6th. 69% of the prepared couscous 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 16 prepared couscous, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5059697388002, last edited 27 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 A (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.