Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Ultra Vitamin C ultra-processed?

Dietary supplements Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Ultra Vitamin C

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:

  • 14 ingredients
  • 6 additives

Less processed dietary supplements

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

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid (Carrier (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose))), Bulking Agents (Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose), Sustained Release Agent (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose), Citrus Bioflavonoids, Anti-Caking Agents (Magnesium Stearate, Silicon 41> Dioxide), Xanthan Gum

Additives: E341 Calcium phosphates , E341ii Dicalcium phosphate , E415 Xanthan gum , E460 Cellulose , E460i Microcrystalline cellulose , E464 Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose

As written on the pack

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid [Carrier: Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose]), Bulking Agents: Dibasic Calcium Phosphate & Microcrystalline Cellulose, Sustained Release Agent: Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Anti-Caking Agents: Magnesium Stearate and Silicon 41> Dioxide, Xanthan Gum.

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.

  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E460 Cellulose A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • E464 Hydroxypropyl 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.
  • Bulking agent Bulking agents are substances which contribute to the volume of a foodstuff without contributing significantly to its available energy value.
1 ingredient that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Anti-caking agent Anti-caking agents are substances which reduce the tendency of individual particles of a foodstuff to adhere to one another.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 1,145 dietary supplements

From least to most processed, this one ranks 542nd. 90% of the dietary supplements 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 1,145 dietary supplements, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5021265244041, last edited 21 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.