Yes — Pitted black olives is ultra-processed.
The product contains stabiliser ferrous gluconate, which is an industrial additive used to fix and darken the colour of olives. Presence of this additive makes the product ultra-processed according to NOVA.
Other cupboard staples Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
Red kidney beans in water
Essential Waitrose & Partners
Not UPF
Cream of Tomato
Baxters
Not UPF
Garlic Passata Rustica
Aldi, Specially Selected
Not UPF
Beef Bone Broth
freja
Not UPF
So Organic Butter Beans
So Organic,Sainsburys
Not UPF
Cannellini beans in water
Waitrose
Not UPF
Lentils in water
Essential Waitrose
Not UPF
Black eyed beans in water
Sainsburys
Not UPF
sainsburys haricot beans in water
Sainsburys
Not UPF
Mixed beans
M&S Food
Not UPF
Yes — Pitted black olives by Tesco is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product contains stabiliser ferrous gluconate, which is an industrial additive used to fix and darken the colour of olives. Presence of this additive makes the product ultra-processed according to NOVA.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made with ingredients and additives you wouldn't find in a home kitchen — such as emulsifiers, artificial flavourings, colourings and modified starches. The classification is based on the NOVA system used by researchers and dietitians worldwide.
Scan any barcode — or photograph the ingredients label — with the free Nomi app for iOS and Android. You'll get an instant ultra-processed verdict with every ingredient explained in plain English.
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Product information comes from public databases and Nomi's own analysis, and may contain errors. Always check the packaging. Ultra-processed classification is based on the NOVA food processing system.