Broccoli salad

Barcode 5425016198421

Yes — Broccoli salad is ultra-processed.

The product is ultra-processed due to the presence of food additives and industrial ingredients such as xanthan gum and guar gum (thickening agents), steviol glycosides (an extracted non-nutritive sweetener), sulphites (preservative), and refined peanut oil and sunflower oil used in components. These additives and highly processed ingredients place the salad in the ultra-processed NOVA category.

Ingredients

5 ultra-processed markers

OK

vegetables (mixed)

Mixed vegetables including broccoli and carrots; non-specific vegetable mix.
OK

red cabbage

A purple or reddish-leaved cultivar of Brassica oleracea, commonly eaten raw in salads or cooked; crunchy, mildly peppery and slightly sweet.
UPF

dressing

A ready-to-use sauce/dressing containing water, rapeseed oil, cane sugar, cider vinegar, and pasteurised egg yolk; a processed product.
OK

salt

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

onion

Bulb onion used as a fresh vegetable.
UPF

carotene colouring and xanthan gum thickener

A combined entry describing a coloring agent (carotene) and a thickening agent (xanthan gum) used in food. Carotene is a natural pigment extracted for coloring; xanthan gum is a common food additive used to thicken and stabilize.
UPF

guar gum and steviol glycosides (natural sweetener)

A combined entry including guar gum (thickener/fiber) and steviol glycosides (a natural sweetener derived from Stevia). Both are common food additives.
UPF

sulphites preservative

A preservative listed as sulphites, used to prevent oxidation and spoilage in foods. Sulphites are common additives for shelf-life extension.
OK

roasted cashew nuts

Roasted cashew nuts with salt and peanut oil; a simple, single-ingredient nut product used as a snack or ingredient.
UPF

dried cranberries

Dried cranberries with added cane sugar and sunflower oil; a sweetened dried fruit product.

Common questions about Broccoli salad

Is Broccoli salad ultra-processed?

Yes — Broccoli salad is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is ultra-processed due to the presence of food additives and industrial ingredients such as xanthan gum and guar gum (thickening agents), steviol glycosides (an extracted non-nutritive sweetener), sulphites (preservative), and refined peanut oil and sunflower oil used in components. These additives and highly processed ingredients place the salad in the ultra-processed NOVA category.

Which ingredients in Broccoli salad are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 5 ingredients in Broccoli salad as ultra-processed markers: dressing, carotene colouring and xanthan gum thickener, guar gum and steviol glycosides (natural sweetener), sulphites preservative, dried cranberries. 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.