Mars Food

Maltesers

Barcode 5000159571463

Yes — Maltesers is ultra-processed.

This product is UPF because it contains several industrial ingredients and additives including glucose syrup (an industrial sugar), barley malt extract (industrially processed extract used as flavour enhancer), palm fat and palm kernel fat (highly refined oils), emulsifiers (soya lecithin, E492), and glazing agent pectins. These additives and refined ingredients place it in the ultra-processed category according to NOVA.

Ingredients

4 ultra-processed markers

OK

sugar

Granulated sugar derived from sugarcane or sugar beets; a basic, single-ingredient sweetener.
OK

Skimmed Milk Powder

Skimmed milk powder is made by removing water from pasteurized skim milk.
OK

cocoa butter

A fat extracted from cocoa beans, used in chocolate, cosmetics, and baking as a fat component.
UPF

glucose syrup

A processed syrup made from starch (usually corn) consisting mainly of glucose; commonly used as a sweetener and thickener.
UPF

Barley Malt Extract

Barley malt extract is a sweetener made from malted barley grains.
OK

cocoa mass

Ground or melted cocoa beans; pure cocoa solids used for chocolate making.
UPF

palm fat

A fat derived from the fruit of oil palm. Often a highly processed vegetable oil used in food production.
OK

whey permeate (milk)

Dairy byproduct comprising lactose, minerals, and residual proteins from whey; used as a sweetener or functional ingredient.
OK

milk fat

Dairy fat from milk, a basic culinary fat used in dairy products and cooking.
UPF

emulsifiers (soy lecithin, e492)

Emulsifiers used to stabilize mixtures in processed foods; soy lecithin is a common food ingredient; E492 refers to a glycolized emulsifier.
OK

palm kernel fat

A fat derived from the kernels of oil palms used as a basic culinary fat in foods.
OK

wheat flour

Finely ground cereal flour from wheat; a fundamental baking ingredient.
OK

raising agents (e341, e501, e500)
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).
OK

whey powder

Dairy-derived protein powder from whey, commonly used in supplements and baked goods.
OK

salt

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

glazing agent (pectins)

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Common questions about Maltesers

Is Maltesers ultra-processed?

Yes — Maltesers by Mars Food is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). This product is UPF because it contains several industrial ingredients and additives including glucose syrup (an industrial sugar), barley malt extract (industrially processed extract used as flavour enhancer), palm fat and palm kernel fat (highly refined oils), emulsifiers (soya lecithin, E492), and glazing agent pectins. These additives and refined ingredients place it in the ultra-processed category according to NOVA.

Which ingredients in Maltesers are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 4 ingredients in Maltesers as ultra-processed markers: glucose syrup, Barley Malt Extract, palm fat, emulsifiers (soy lecithin, e492). 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.