Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Tesco Steak-free Slice ultra-processed?

150g Sold in the United Kingdom

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:

  • 55 ingredients
  • 7 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Wheat Flour, Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin, Water, Wheat 12%, Pea Protein Strips 12% (Water, Wheat Protein, Potato Protein, Wheat Gluten, Pea Protein Isolate, Sunflower Oil, Pea Starch, Wheat Starch, Flavourings, Maltodextrin, Malted Barley Extract, Pea Protein, Palm Oil, Potato, Onion, Cornflour, Rapeseed Oil, Yeast Extract, Salt, Tomato Purée, Balsamic Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar, Grape Must), Parsley, Flavourings, Black Pepper, Wheat Protein, Coconut Fat, Molasses, Malted Barley Extract, Potato, Lentil Proteín, Sunflower Oil, Sugar, Onion, Modified Potato Starch, Stabilisers (Methyl Cellulose, Xanthan Gum), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Emulsifier (Polysorbate 60), Acidity Regulator (Trisodium Citrate), Colour (Beta-Carotene)

Additives: E160a Carotene , E160ai Beta-carotene , E331 Sodium citrates , E331iii Trisodium citrate , E415 Xanthan gum , E435 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate , E461 Methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin], Water, Wheat and Pea Protein Strips (12%) [Water, Wheat Protein, Potato Protein, Wheat Gluten, Pea Protein Isolate, Sunflower Oil, Pea Starch, Wheat Starch, Flavourings, Maltodextrin, Malted Barley Extract, Pea Protein, Palm Oil, Potato, Onion, Cornflour, Rapeseed Oil, Yeast Extract, Salt, Tomato Purée, Balsamic Vinegar [Red Wine Vinegar, Grape Must Concentrate], Parsley, Flavourings, Black Pepper, Wheat Protein, Coconut Fat, Molasses, Malted Barley Extract, Dried Potato, Lentil Proteín, Sunflower Oil, Sugar, Onion Powder, Modified Potato Starch, Stabilisers (Methyl Cellulose, Xanthan Gum), Concentrated Lemon Juice, Emulsifier (Polysorbate 60), Acidity Regulator (Trisodium Citrate), Colour (Beta-Carotene)

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.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E435 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate 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.
  • E461 Methyl cellulose 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.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
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  • 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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
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.

  • 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.
  • Vegetable fat Vegetable fats are oils that are solid at room temperature, such as palm or coconut fat.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5059697756078, 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.
  • 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.