Birds Eye

Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken

Barcode 5000116125272

Yes — Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken is ultra-processed.

Ultra-processed—best enjoyed occasionally rather than as an everyday choice.

This product is ultra-processed because it contains several industrial formulations and additives: palm oil, which is highly refined; dried glucose syrup, an industrially processed isolated sugar; yeast extract, a flavour enhancer; natural flavourings and smoke flavourings, which are industrial flavouring additives; natural emulsifier (soya lecithin), an emulsifier; and colour (paprika extract), an extracted colouring additive. These ingredients go beyond simple culinary processing. Fortified wheat flour, rapeseed oil, sugar, vinegar, spices, citric acid, and vitamins and minerals do not independently make the product ultra-processed.

Ingredients

10 ultra-processed markers

OK

chicken breast

Lean chicken meat from the breast.
OK

water

Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
OK

rapeseed oil

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

fortified wheat flour

Wheat flour fortified with minerals and vitamins (calcium carbonate, iron, niacin).
OK

thiamine

A water-soluble B vitamin (vitamin B1) used as a nutrient and fortification additive.
OK

starch

Starch derived from maize (corn) and wheat.
UPF

palm oil

A widely used edible oil pressed from the fruit of oil palms; a basic culinary oil but highly processed in many commercial products.
OK

demerara sugar

Demerara sugar is a coarse-grained brown sugar derived from the cane sugar refining process.
OK

salt

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

rice flour

A finely milled flour from milled rice, commonly used as a gluten-free thickener or flour substitute in baking and cooking.
OK

dried onion

Dried form of the onion bulb, used as a seasoning; flavor-concentrated and shelf-stable.
OK

molasses powder

A powdered form of molasses, a traditional sugary byproduct of sugar refining; may contain trace gluten from processing.
UPF

natural flavouring

Flavoring derived from natural sources; may include barley-derived components, which can carry gluten.
UPF

natural vinegar and pimento flavouring

A natural-flavouring blend featuring vinegar and pimento (allspice) flavors; used to impart taste.
UPF

dried glucose syrup

Concentrated, dried form of glucose syrup, a refined sweetener derived from carbohydrates.
OK

garlic powder

Dried, ground garlic used as a convenient, concentrated form of garlic flavoring in cooking.
OK

white vinegar

Fermented acetic acid solution used as a condiment and preservative.
OK

spices

diverse plant extracts used to flavor foods; can refer to a mix of single or blended seasonings.
UPF

yeast extract

A flavor-enhancing extract produced from yeast cells, rich in amino acids and natural glutamates, commonly used to augment savory flavors.
OK

citric acid

A weak organic acid found in citrus fruits, commonly used as an acidulant and preservative in foods and beverages.
OK

caramelised sugar

A sugar that has been heated to develop a caramel flavor and color; essentially a processed form of sugar.
UPF

smoke flavour

A natural or artificial flavoring used to impart a smoky taste in foods; commonly derived from smoke compounds or with smoke essence added.
UPF

soy lecithin

A natural emulsifier derived from soy that helps oil and water mix in foods and can act as a stabilizer and texture enhancer.
UPF

colour (paprika extract)

Natural color additive derived from paprika used to impart a red-orange hue in foods.
UPF

clove and apple flavoring

A natural flavoring blend used to impart both clove and apple notes to foods; typically a mix of essential oils or flavor compounds.
UPF

natural flavourings

Flavorings derived from natural sources used to impart taste or aroma; typically a mix of essential oils, compounds, or extracts.

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Common questions about Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken

Is Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken ultra-processed?

Yes — Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken by Birds Eye is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). This product is ultra-processed because it contains several industrial formulations and additives: palm oil, which is highly refined; dried glucose syrup, an industrially processed isolated sugar; yeast extract, a flavour enhancer; natural flavourings and smoke flavourings, which are industrial flavouring additives; natural emulsifier (soya lecithin), an emulsifier; and colour (paprika extract), an extracted colouring additive. These ingredients go beyond simple culinary processing. Fortified wheat flour, rapeseed oil, sugar, vinegar, spices, citric acid, and vitamins and minerals do not independently make the product ultra-processed.

Which ingredients in Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 10 ingredients in Chargrilled Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken as ultra-processed markers: palm oil, natural flavouring, natural vinegar and pimento flavouring, dried glucose syrup, yeast extract, smoke flavour, soy lecithin, colour (paprika extract), clove and apple flavoring, natural flavourings. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.

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.