McVitie's

Digestives Dark chocolate

Barcode 5000168194127

Scanned 37 times by Nomi users

Yes — Digestives Dark chocolate is ultra-processed.

The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains several industrial ingredients and additives. Specifically: natural flavouring (an industrial flavor additive), glucose-fructose syrup (an industrially processed sugar syrup), emulsifiers such as soya lecithin and E476 (polyglycerol polyricinoleate), and refined palm oil/fats. According to the NOVA system and the given rules, the presence of these ingredients is sufficient to classify the product as UPF, even though it also contains basic ingredients like wheat flour, sugar, cocoa, and butter oil.

Ingredients

4 ultra-processed markers

OK

flour 39% (_wheat_ flour, calcium, iron, niacin, thiamin)
OK

plain chocolate 30% (sugar)
OK

cocoa mass

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

vegetable fats (palm, sal and/or shea)
UPF

butter oil

A concentrated fat blend derived from butter, often used for flavor and fat content in foods.
OK

cocoa butter

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

emulsifiers (_soya_ lecithin, e476)
UPF

natural flavouring

A generic flavoring ingredient derived from natural sources used to impart aroma or taste; may include essential oils or extracts.
UPF

palm oil

Refined vegetable oil extracted from palm fruit; common culinary oil.
OK

wholemeal _wheat_ flour 9%
OK

sugar

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

glucose-fructose syrup

A commercially produced sweet syrup made by hydrolyzing and blending glucose and fructose sugars; widely used as a sweetener in foods and beverages.
OK

raising agents

A mix of leavening agents including sodium bicarbonate, malic acid and ammonium bicarbonate used to help dough rise.
OK

salt

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

Healthier alternatives

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Common questions about Digestives Dark chocolate

Is Digestives Dark chocolate ultra-processed?

Yes — Digestives Dark chocolate by McVitie's is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains several industrial ingredients and additives. Specifically: natural flavouring (an industrial flavor additive), glucose-fructose syrup (an industrially processed sugar syrup), emulsifiers such as soya lecithin and E476 (polyglycerol polyricinoleate), and refined palm oil/fats. According to the NOVA system and the given rules, the presence of these ingredients is sufficient to classify the product as UPF, even though it also contains basic ingredients like wheat flour, sugar, cocoa, and butter oil.

Which ingredients in Digestives Dark chocolate are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 4 ingredients in Digestives Dark chocolate as ultra-processed markers: butter oil, natural flavouring, palm oil, glucose-fructose syrup. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.

What are healthier alternatives to Digestives Dark chocolate?

Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Oat Shortbread by walkers, Oat Crumbles by Island Bakery. 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.