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Hot Cross Buns by Tesco
Tesco

Hot Cross Buns

Barcode 5000119274960
Scanned  48  times by Nomi users
Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)

Yes — Hot Cross Buns is ultra-processed.

The product is ultra-processed because it contains several industrial additives and formulations. Specifically: invert sugar syrup (industrially processed sugar syrup), palm oil and palm fat (highly refined oils), emulsifiers (mono- and di-acetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids, mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids), flavouring (industrial flavouring agents), potato dextrin (modified carbohydrate), and added wheat protein. These ingredients place the product in the ultra-processed (NOVA 4) category.

Ingredients

6 ultra-processed markers
  • OK
    wheat flour
    A basic grain-based flour from wheat used as a primary ingredient in baking and cooking.
  • OK
    calcium carbonate
    A basic inorganic calcium salt used as a nutrition supplement and anticaking agent in foods.
  • OK
    iron
    Essential mineral used as a nutrient or fortifying ingredient in foods.
  • OK
    niacin (vitamin b3)
    A water-soluble vitamin used as a nutrient and often added to foods as a fortifying vitamin.
  • OK
    thiamin
    A water-soluble B vitamin used as a nutrient and fortification ingredient.
  • OK
    moistened mixed fruits (25%) [sultanas
    A mix of dried fruits including sultanas, moistened, used in baking and confections.
  • OK
    raisins
    Dried grapes, commonly used as a sweet ingredient in baking and snacks; natural, minimally processed fruit product.
  • OK
    currants
    Small dried berries of certain grape varieties or cultivatedRaspberries? Currants are small dried fruit, commonly red or black, used in baking and cooking.
  • OK
    water
    Water is a basic culinary ingredient used as a solvent and diluent in foods.
  • OK
    water
    Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
  • OK
    mixed peel (2%) [orange peel
    Citrus peel candied or dried, used for flavor in baked goods.
  • OK
    lemon peel]
    Lemon zest or dried lemon peel used for flavoring.
  • UPF
    invert sugar syrup
    A refined sugar syrup produced by hydrolyzing sucrose into glucose and fructose; a processed sweetener often used in foods.
  • OK
    yeast
    A living microorganism used as a leavening agent in baking.
  • OK
    wheat gluten
    Gluten from wheat; a protein complex used as a food ingredient to provide elasticity and structure in doughs and meat substitutes (e.g., seitan).
  • UPF
    potato dextrin
    A carbohydrate derived from potato starch through hydrolysis, yielding a soluble dextrin used as a thickener or binding agent.
  • OK
    wheat protein
    Protein derived from wheat; often used as a gluten-rich ingredient to improve dough structure.
  • 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
    salt
    Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
  • UPF
    emulsifiers (mono- and di-acetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids)
    A food additive consisting of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids and their acetyl tartaric acid esters, used as emulsifier and stabilizer in processed foods.
  • UPF
    palm fat
    A fat derived from the fruit of oil palm. Often a highly processed vegetable oil used in food production.
  • UPF
    flavouring
    A generic additive used to impart or enhance flavor; can be synthetic or derived from natural sources.
  • OK
    rapeseed oil
    A basic culinary oil pressed from rapeseeds (Brassica napus). Used for frying, baking, and dressings. Neutral flavor.
  • OK
    vegetable fibre
    Plant-derived dietary fibre often used as a texture enhancer or bulking agent.
  • OK
    soy flour
    A basic single-ingredient flour made from soybeans, used as a gluten-free flour option with high protein content.
  • OK
    ascorbic acid (flour treatment agent)
    Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) used as a dough conditioner to strengthen gluten structure in flour.

Swap it for something less processed

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Common questions about Hot Cross Buns

Is Hot Cross Buns ultra-processed?

Yes — Hot Cross Buns by Tesco is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is ultra-processed because it contains several industrial additives and formulations. Specifically: invert sugar syrup (industrially processed sugar syrup), palm oil and palm fat (highly refined oils), emulsifiers (mono- and di-acetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids, mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids), flavouring (industrial flavouring agents), potato dextrin (modified carbohydrate), and added wheat protein. These ingredients place the product in the ultra-processed (NOVA 4) category.

Which ingredients in Hot Cross Buns are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 6 ingredients in Hot Cross Buns as ultra-processed markers: invert sugar syrup, potato dextrin, palm oil, emulsifiers (mono- and di-acetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), palm fat, flavouring. 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.

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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.

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