Is Trader Joe’s Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snack ultra-processed?

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Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Maltodextrin
Modified starch
E450 Diphosphates

31 ingredients
6 additives

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

tempura flour mix (wheat flour, modified tapioca starch (ultra-processing marker), white pepper, leavening (baking powder, sodium), acid (pyrophosphate (ultra-processing marker)), baking soda, monocalcium phosphate, cornstarch (processing marker), salt (processing marker), sugar (processing marker), yeast extract), rice bran oil (processing marker), rice bran oil (processing marker), rosemary extract, nori seaweed, togarashi style seasoning, sugar (processing marker), spice mix (chili pepper, garlic, paprika, red chili, black pepper), salt (processing marker), maltodextrin (ultra-processing marker), yeast extract, soybean oil (processing marker)

Additives: E341 Calcium phosphates , E341i Monocalcium phosphate , E392 Extracts of rosemary , E450 Diphosphates , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate

As written on the pack

TEMPURA FLOUR MIX (WHEAT FLOUR, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, WHITE PEPPER, LEAVENING [BAKING POWDER (SODIUM, ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CORNSTARCH), SALT, SUGAR, YEAST EXTRACT), RICE BRAN OIL (RICE BRAN OIL, ROSEMARY EXTRACT, NORI SEAWEED, TOGARASHI STYLE SEASONING (SUGAR, SPICE MIX [CHILI PEPPER, GARLIC POWDER, PAPRIKA, RED CHILI POWDER, BLACK PEPPER], SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, YEAST EXTRACT, SOYBEAN OIL

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.
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.

Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.

4 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 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 00740869, last edited 10 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.