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Yes — Baked Beans is ultra-processed.
The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains modified maize starch and flavourings, which are industrial additives used as thickeners/stabilizers and flavoring agents. According to NOVA, the presence of such additives makes the food an ultra-processed product, even though the base ingredients (beans, water, tomato purée, sugar, salt, spices) are minimally processed or culinary ingredients.
Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.
Other cupboard staples Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
Double Stuffed Halkidiki Olives
Sainsbury's
Not UPF
Organic White Beans
Bold Bean Co
Not UPF
Coconut milk
Chaokoh
Not UPF
Red Kidney Beans
Sainsbury's
Not UPF
Red split lentils
Morrisons
Not UPF
Green Olives
Sainsbury’s
Not UPF
Red Lentils
By sainsbury's
Not UPF
Hearty Vegetable broth
Trader Joe's
Not UPF
Hugh's classic vegetable stock
River Cottage
Not UPF
Red split lentils
Laila
Not UPF
Yes — Baked Beans by Coop is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains modified maize starch and flavourings, which are industrial additives used as thickeners/stabilizers and flavoring agents. According to NOVA, the presence of such additives makes the food an ultra-processed product, even though the base ingredients (beans, water, tomato purée, sugar, salt, spices) are minimally processed or culinary ingredients.
Nomi flags 2 ingredients in Baked Beans as ultra-processed markers: modified maize starch, flavourings. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.
Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Baked Beans in tomato sauce by Sainsbury’s Organic, Organic baked beans by mr organic, Biona Organic Baked Beans Classic by Biona Organic. See the healthier alternatives above for details.
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.
This page was shared from Nomi, the free app that tells you instantly whether any food is ultra-processed.
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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.
