Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Tesco Mild Cheese Slices ultra-processed?

Processed cheese in slices Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Tesco Mild Cheese Slices

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:

  • 18 ingredients
  • 7 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed processed cheese in slices

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

Cheese, Water, Palm Oil, Emulsifying Salts (Sodium Polyphosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Trisodium Phosphate), Modified Potato Starch, Flavouring, Milk Proteins, Whey Powder, Colours (Beta-Carotene, Paprika extract), Made using milk from the EU and non-EU, STOR Pack Tes We Allergy Advice For allergens, Tes Mar Individually wrapped for convenience, © Fat 10

Additives: E160a Carotene , E160ai Beta-carotene , E160c Paprika extract , E339 Sodium phosphates , E339iii Trisodium phosphate , E452 Polyphosphates , E452i Sodium polyphosphate

As written on the pack

Cheese (Milk) (60%), Water, Palm Oil, Emulsifying Salts (Sodium Polyphosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Trisodium Phosphate), Modified Potato Starch, Flavouring (contains Milk), Milk Proteins, Whey Powder (Milk), Colours (Beta-Carotene, Paprika extract). Made using milk from the EU and non-EU. STOR Pack Tes We Allergy Advice For allergens, see ingredients in bold. Tes Suitable for vegetarians Mar Individually wrapped for convenience. © Fat 10

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.

  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.
  • E452 Polyphosphates 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.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.

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.

  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
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.

  • Cheeses Products in the category "Cheeses" are at least group 3.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 9 processed cheese in slices

From least to most processed, this one ranks 9th. 67% of the processed cheese in slices 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 9 processed cheese in slices, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000119517012, last edited 7 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 D (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.