McVitie's

Digestives Dark Chocolate

Barcode 5000168208763

Scanned 19 times by Nomi users

Yes — Digestives Dark Chocolate is ultra-processed.

The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains industrial additives and ingredients such as emulsifiers (soya lecithin, E476), natural flavouring, palm vegetable fats/oils, and glucose-fructose syrup. These are characteristic of NOVA group 4 ultra-processed foods.

Ingredients

5 ultra-processed markers

OK

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

thiamine

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

plain chocolate (30%) [sugar
OK

cocoa mass

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

palm oil

Palm-derived vegetable fat/oil used for cooking and in processed foods; often refined.
OK

shea butter

Fat extracted from the shea tree nuts, used in cooking and as a fat component in some foods.
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.

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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 industrial additives and ingredients such as emulsifiers (soya lecithin, E476), natural flavouring, palm vegetable fats/oils, and glucose-fructose syrup. These are characteristic of NOVA group 4 ultra-processed foods.

Which ingredients in Digestives Dark Chocolate are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 5 ingredients in Digestives Dark Chocolate as ultra-processed markers: palm oil, butter oil, natural flavouring, palm oil, glucose-fructose syrup. 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.