McVitie's

Penguin

Barcode 5000168210360

Scanned 26 times by Nomi users

Yes — Penguin is ultra-processed.

The product contains several ultra-processed ingredients/additives according to NOVA, including palm oil (highly processed refined oil), glucose-fructose syrup (industrially processed sugar syrup), natural flavouring (industrial flavouring), and emulsifiers (soya lecithin, E476). These industrial formulations and additives classify the product as ultra-processed (UPF).

Ingredients

5 ultra-processed markers

OK

milk chocolate flavour coating (29%) [sugar
OK

vegetable oils (palm, shea)
OK

cocoa mass

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

dried skimmed milk

Dried skimmed milk is powdered milk with fat removed, used as a dairy ingredient to provide protein and calcium.
OK

dried whey (milk)

Powdered whey, the liquid whey component dried for use as a dairy protein and flavoring in foods.
OK

butter oil (milk)

Fat component derived from milk, used as a dairy fat or spread; often included in chocolate or bakery products.
UPF

emulsifier (soy lecithin, e476)

A food additive used to stabilize emulsions; E476 refers to polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), often used to improve texture and shelf-life.
UPF

natural flavouring

A flavoring substance used to impart taste or aroma; likely an additive derived from natural sources. The extra closing bracket in the original name is ignored for description.
OK

wheat flour

A common cereal flour ground from wheat; enriched with added nutrients (calcium, iron, niacin, thiamin).
OK

sugar

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

fat-reduced cocoa powder

Cocoa powder from which most of the fat (cocoa butter) has been removed; used to add cocoa flavor with lower fat content.
OK

raising agents (sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate)

Leavening agents used to make dough rise; typical food additives in baking.
UPF

natural flavouring

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

salt

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

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Common questions about Penguin

Is Penguin ultra-processed?

Yes — Penguin by McVitie's is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product contains several ultra-processed ingredients/additives according to NOVA, including palm oil (highly processed refined oil), glucose-fructose syrup (industrially processed sugar syrup), natural flavouring (industrial flavouring), and emulsifiers (soya lecithin, E476). These industrial formulations and additives classify the product as ultra-processed (UPF).

Which ingredients in Penguin are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 5 ingredients in Penguin as ultra-processed markers: emulsifier (soy lecithin, e476), natural flavouring, palm oil, glucose-fructose syrup, natural 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.

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.