McVities

Jaffa Cakes

Barcode 50168989

Yes — Jaffa Cakes is ultra-processed.

This product is ultra-processed because it contains several industrial ingredients and additives, including glucose-fructose syrup, dextrose, glucose syrup, emulsifiers (soya lecithin, e476), humectant (glycerine), acid (citric acid), gelling agent (pectin), acidity regulator (sodium citrates), natural orange flavouring, and colour (curcumin). These are characteristic of ultra-processed foods in the NOVA classification.

Ingredients

15 ultra-processed markers

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.
UPF

dark chocolate

A chocolate product containing cocoa solids and added sugar; often used in confectionery and sweets.
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.
OK

butter oil (milk)

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

cocoa butter

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

sugar

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

wheat flour

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

whole egg

A whole chicken egg including yolk and white, used as a binding, enriching, and leavening ingredient in many recipes.
OK

water

Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
UPF

dextrose

A simple sugar derived from glucose. Commonly used as a sweetener and source of quick energy in foods.
OK

orange juice concentrate

Juice from oranges with water removed to concentrate sugars and flavors.
UPF

glucose syrup

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

vegetable oils (sunflower and palm)

A blend of vegetable oils including sunflower oil and palm oil; used as a cooking/fat ingredient. Palm oil is highly processed.
UPF

glycerin (glycerol)

A humectant used to retain moisture in foods and to improve texture; often added as a sweetener or stabilizer.
UPF

citric acid

A sour-tasting organic acid used as an acidulant and preservative in foods. Commonly added in small amounts to adjust acidity.
UPF

pectin

Natural polysaccharide extracted from plant cell walls used as a gelling agent in jams, jellies, and confectionery.
OK

raising agents (disodium diphosphate, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate)

A blend of leavening compounds used to release gases in doughs and batters, enabling rising. Includes disodium diphosphate, ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate.
OK

dried whole egg

Dried eggs obtained by removing moisture, used as a convenient source of protein and functional binder.
UPF

sodium citrate

A basic acidity regulator used to adjust pH and act as an emulsifier or buffering agent in foods.
UPF

natural orange flavouring

Flavor extract derived from natural orange sources used to impart orange aroma and taste.
UPF

curcumin (color)

Orange-yellow natural pigment extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa), used as a food colourant.
UPF

emulsifier (soy lecithin)

Soya lecithin is an emulsifier used to stabilize mixtures; presence of juice content noted but ingredient is an additive.

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Common questions about Jaffa Cakes

Is Jaffa Cakes ultra-processed?

Yes — Jaffa Cakes by McVities is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). This product is ultra-processed because it contains several industrial ingredients and additives, including glucose-fructose syrup, dextrose, glucose syrup, emulsifiers (soya lecithin, e476), humectant (glycerine), acid (citric acid), gelling agent (pectin), acidity regulator (sodium citrates), natural orange flavouring, and colour (curcumin). These are characteristic of ultra-processed foods in the NOVA classification.

Which ingredients in Jaffa Cakes are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 15 ingredients in Jaffa Cakes as ultra-processed markers: glucose-fructose syrup, dark chocolate, palm oil, emulsifier (soy lecithin, e476), natural flavouring, dextrose, glucose syrup, vegetable oils (sunflower and palm), glycerin (glycerol), citric acid, pectin, sodium citrate, natural orange flavouring, curcumin (color), emulsifier (soy lecithin). 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.