Is it ultra-processed?
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Is The deli Mediterranean Style Falafel ultra-processed?

200 g Falafels Sold in the United Kingdom and France

Pack of The deli Mediterranean Style Falafel

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:

  • 23 ingredients
  • 3 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed falafels

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

chickpeas 81% (water, chickpeas), onion 10%, rapeseed oil, potato 6% (potato, emulsifier (monoglycerides of fatty acids, diglycerides of fatty acids), antioxidant (diphosphates)), garlic puree 1.5% (water, dried garlic), concentrated lemon juice, salt, raising agent (sodium carbonates), cumin, coriander, parsley, white pepper

Additives: E450 Diphosphates , E500 Sodium carbonates , E570 Fatty acids

As written on the pack

chickpeas 81% (water, chickpeas), onion 10%, rapeseed oil, dried potato 6% (dried potato, emulsifier (monoglycerides of fatty acids, diglycerides of fatty acids), antioxidant (diphosphates)), garlic puree 1,5% (water, dried garlic), concentrated lemon juice, salt, raising agent (sodium carbonates), cumin powder, coriander powder, dried parsley, white pepper

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.

  • E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
2 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 45 falafels

From least to most processed, this one ranks 41st. 42% of the falafels 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 45 falafels, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4088600031637, last edited 6 April 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.