Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Whole wheat ultra-processed?

Wheat breads Sold in the United States

Pack of Whole wheat

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
  • 4 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed wheat breads

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

whole wheat flour, nutrition facts water, wheat gluten, sugar, yeast, soybean oil, salt, molasses, 22 servings per container serving size monoglycerides, calcium propionate 1 slice (preservative), datem, calcium sulfate, soy lecithin, citric acid, potassium iodate, grain vinegar, % daily value* total fat 1g saturated fat og trans fat og polyunsaturated fat og monounsaturated fat 0g cholesterol omg sodium 110mg fotal carbohydrate 12g dietary fiber 2g al sugars 1g ncludes 1g added sugars

Additives: E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E330 Citric acid , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

whole wheat flour, nutrition facts water, wheat gluten, sugar, yeast, soybean oil, salt, molasses, 22 servings per container serving size monoglycerides, calcium propionate 1 slice (26g) (preservative), datem, calcium sulfate, soy lecithin, citric acid, potassium iodate, grain vinegar, amount per serving 60 calories contains wheat and soy, máy contain traces of milk, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts, % daily value* total fat 1g saturated fat og trans fat og polyunsaturated fat og monounsaturated fat 0g cholesterol omg sodium 110mg fotal carbohydrate 12g dietary fiber 2g al sugars 1g ncludes 1g added sugars

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.

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.

  • Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.
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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • 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

Among 228 wheat breads

From least to most processed, this one ranks 73rd. 92% of the wheat breads 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 228 wheat breads, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 07875236, last edited 26 February 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.