Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Falafel ultra-processed?

12 OZ (340g) Falafels Sold in the United States

Pack of Trader Joe's Fully Cooked 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:

  • 18 ingredients
  • 6 additives
  • Nutri-Score B

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

Soaked Garbanzo Beans (Garbanzo Beans, Water), Water, Canola Oil, Onions, Zucchini, Spices, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate), Sesame Seeds, Garlic, Salt, Parsley

Additives: E341 Calcium phosphates , E341i Monocalcium phosphate , E450 Diphosphates , E450i Disodium diphosphate , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate

As written on the pack

Soaked Garbanzo Beans (Garbanzo Beans, Water), Water, Canola Oil, Onions, Zucchini, Spices, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate), Sesame Seeds, Garlic, Salt, Parsley.

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.
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 37th. 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 00656337, last edited 29 July 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 B (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.