Yes — Baked Beans is ultra-processed.
The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains several industrial ingredients/additives: modified maize starch (a chemically modified starch used as a thickener), glucose-fructose syrup (an industrially refined sugar syrup), flavourings (industrial flavor formulations), and paprika extract (an isolated extract used as a color/flavor additive). Any one of these would be sufficient to classify the product as UPF according to the NOVA guidance, and together they clearly place it in the ultra-processed category.
Other cupboard staples Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
Suma Vegan Organic Mushroom Soup
Suma
Not UPF
brown Lentils
odd Pod
Not UPF
Butter Beans
Waitrose Duchy Organic, Waitrose, Duchy
Not UPF
Flaxseed
Not UPF
Organic Baked Beans
Tesco
Not UPF
Italian Tomato Purée Double Concentrate
Sainsbury's,by sainsbury's
Not UPF
Baked Beans in tomato sauce
Sainsbury’s Organic
Not UPF
Beanz In a Rich Tomato Sauce, Organic
Heinz
Not UPF
Baked beans in tomato sauce
Waitrose
Not UPF
Red Kidney Beans in water
Sainsbury's
Not UPF
Yes — Baked Beans by Asda 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/additives: modified maize starch (a chemically modified starch used as a thickener), glucose-fructose syrup (an industrially refined sugar syrup), flavourings (industrial flavor formulations), and paprika extract (an isolated extract used as a color/flavor additive). Any one of these would be sufficient to classify the product as UPF according to the NOVA guidance, and together they clearly place it in the ultra-processed category.
Nomi flags 4 ingredients in Baked Beans as ultra-processed markers: modified maize starch, glucose-fructose syrup, flavourings, paprika extract. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.
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.
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.
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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.