Marks & Spencer

Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf

Barcode 00515221

Scanned 56 times by Nomi users

Yes — Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf is ultra-processed.

This bread is ultra-processed because it contains several industrially processed ingredients and additives. The palm oil and fractionated palm oil are highly refined oils; wheat flour with added calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, and thiamin is a pre-identified UPF ingredient; caramelised sugar syrup is also pre-identified as UPF; and malted wheat is an industrially processed extract used to enhance flavour. These ingredients go beyond basic bread-making ingredients and indicate an industrial formulation.

Ingredients

2 ultra-processed markers

OK

wholemeal wheat flour

Coarsely milled whole wheat flour; used as a basic cereal grain flour in baking; contains gluten.
OK

malted wheat

Wheat that has been germinated and dried; provides fermentable sugars and flavor; contains gluten.
OK

brown sugar

Unrefined or partially refined sugar with molasses giving a brown color and distinctive flavor; a basic sweetener.
OK

yeast

Microscopic fungus used as a leavening agent in baking; may be dried and sometimes supplied with added Vitamin D; contains gluten due to wheat-derived substrates in some forms.
OK

salt

Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
OK

soy flour

A basic single-ingredient flour made from soybeans, used as a gluten-free flour option with high protein content.
UPF

palm oil - fractionated palm oil - wheatflour (contains gluten)

A composite ingredient listing multiple components: palm oil, fractionated palm oil (a refined oil), and wheat flour (gluten-containing). The presence of fractionated palm oil indicates refined, processed oil components.
OK

rapeseed oil

A basic culinary oil pressed from rapeseeds (Brassica napus). Used for frying, baking, and dressings. Neutral flavor.
UPF

wheatflour contains gluten (with wheatflour, calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, thiamin) caramelised sugar syrup

A composite ingredient listing wheat flour with fortifying minerals and caramelised sugar syrup. Contains gluten from wheat flour and a caramelised sugar syrup (a processed sugar product).
OK

ascorbic acid (vitamin c) used as flour treatment agent

Ascorbic acid added to flour as a processing agent to improve dough strength and flour performance; commonly used as a bakery additive.

Healthier alternatives

Reviewed by Nomi

Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.

Not Ultra-Processed

Sourdough Wholemeal Ciabattin

Jason's

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Common questions about Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf

Is Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf ultra-processed?

Yes — Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf by Marks & Spencer is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). This bread is ultra-processed because it contains several industrially processed ingredients and additives. The palm oil and fractionated palm oil are highly refined oils; wheat flour with added calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, and thiamin is a pre-identified UPF ingredient; caramelised sugar syrup is also pre-identified as UPF; and malted wheat is an industrially processed extract used to enhance flavour. These ingredients go beyond basic bread-making ingredients and indicate an industrial formulation.

Which ingredients in Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 2 ingredients in Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf as ultra-processed markers: palm oil - fractionated palm oil - wheatflour (contains gluten), wheatflour contains gluten (with wheatflour, calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, thiamin) caramelised sugar syrup. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.

What are healthier alternatives to Medium Wholemeal Super Soft Loaf?

Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Sourdough Wholemeal Ciabattin by Jason's. See the healthier alternatives above for details.

What does "ultra-processed" (UPF) mean?

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.

How can I check whether other foods are ultra-processed?

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.

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.