Is Tesco Finest Mini Hot Cross Buns ultra-processed?

Bread rolls 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:

Emulsifier
Flavouring
Gluten
E1400 Dextrin
E470a Sodium/potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
and 1 more

36 ingredients
6 additives

Less processed bread rolls

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 (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Moistened Mixed Fruits 30% (Raisins, Flame Raisins, Currants, Sultanas, Water), Water, Mixed Peel 2% (Orange Peel, Lemon Peel), Butter (processing marker), Rapeseed Oil, Honey (processing marker), Demerara Sugar (processing marker), Wheat Gluten (ultra-processing marker), Buttermilk Powder, Yeast, Emulsifiers (ultra-processing marker) (mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (ultra-processing marker), mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (ultra-processing marker), Sodium, Potassium, Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids (ultra-processing marker)), Flavourings (ultra-processing marker), Potato Dextrin (ultra-processing marker), Salt (processing marker), Palm Fat, Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid), Wheat Starch (processing marker)

Additives: E1400 Dextrin , E300 Ascorbic acid , E470a Sodium/potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids , E470aiii Calcium salts of fatty acids , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin], Moistened Mixed Fruits (30%) [Raisins, Flame Raisins, Currants, Sultanas, Water], Water, Mixed Peel (2%) [Orange Peel, Lemon Peel], Butter (Milk), Rapeseed Oil, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Wheat Gluten, Buttermilk Powder, Yeast, Emulsifiers (Mono - and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Mono - and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono - and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Sodium, Potassium and Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids), Flavourings, Potato Dextrin, Salt, Palm Fat, Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid), Wheat Starch.

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.

E1400 Dextrin Dextrin is starch partly broken down by heat or acid, used as a thickener, binder and coating.
E470a Sodium/potassium and calcium salts of fatty acids Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

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.

5 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.

Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
Honey Honey, used as a sweetener.
Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 63 bread rolls

From least to most processed, this one ranks 58th. 79% of the bread rolls 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 63 bread rolls, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5059697690860, 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.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.