Is Waitrose Mediterranean style vegetables sausages ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 40 ingredients
- 3 additives
- Nutri-Score A
Less processed vegetarian sausages
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
Grilled aubergine 29% (aubergine, sunflower oil (processing marker)), red pepper 17%, courgette, pea flour, haricot beans, water, onions, chickpeas gelling agent (sodium alginate (ultra-processing marker)), olive oil (processing marker), pea fibre (ultra-processing marker), sunflower oil (processing marker), sun dried tomato, pea starch (processing marker), stabiliser (methylcellulose (ultra-processing marker)), white wine vinegar, garlic purée, salt (processing marker), porcini mushroom, yeast extract, basil, black pepper, rosemary, thyme, garlic purée, ground rosemary preservative (sodium metabisulphite), rapeseed oil, radish, carrot concentrate, citric acid ALLERGY ADVICE (For allergens see ingredients in bold SHALLOW FRY HIGH HEAT 10 mins To shallow fry on the electric hob and gas hob from chilled Preheat 1 tbsp (15mi), of olina frying pan over a high heat Remove al packaging and place SUSIS the pan, Cook for 10 minutes NUTRITION TYPICAL VALUES AS PREPARED Energy kj Energy kcal Fat of which satura Carbohydrate of which sugars Fibre Protein Salt waitrose.com, n This pack contai R=% of your da STORAGE), Keep 5°C For use by s VEGETARIA and VEGA 200
Additives: E200 Sorbic acid , E401 Sodium alginate , E461 Methyl cellulose
As written on the pack
Grilled aubergine (29%) (aubergine, sunflower oil), roasted red pepper (17%), courgette, pea flour, haricot beans, water, onions, chickpeas gelling agent (sodium alginate), olive oil, pea fibre, sunflower oil, sun dried tomato, pea starch, stabiliser (methylcellulose). white wine vinegar, roasted garlic purée, salt, porcini mushroom powder, yeast extract, basil, black pepper, rosemary. thyme, garlic purée, ground rosemary preservative (sodium metabisulphite) rapeseed oil, radish concentrate, carrot concentrate, citric acid ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens see ingredients in bold SHALLOW FRY HIGH HEAT 10 mins To shallow fry on the electric hob or gas hob from chilled Preheat 1 tbsp (15mi) of olina frying pan over a high heat Remove al packaging and place SUSIS the pan. Cook for 10 minutes NUTRITION TYPICAL VALUES AS PREPARED Energy kj Energy kcal Fat of which satura Carbohydrate of which sugars Fibre Protein Salt waitrose.com/n This pack contai R=% of your da STORAGE: Keep 5°C For use by s VEGETARIA AND VEGA 200
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.
- E401 Sodium alginate 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.
- 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.
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.
- Vegetable fiber Isolated plant fibres, such as inulin, oat fibre or bamboo fibre, are extracted industrially and added to change texture or support "source of fibre" claims.
3 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.
- Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
Among 84 vegetarian sausages
From least to most processed, this one ranks 24th. 96% of the vegetarian sausages here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000169612651, 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.
- 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.