Why is Spicy Black Bean & Chicken classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The meal is marked as NOVA 4 because it combines multiple processed ingredients such as seasoned cooked chicken, a formulated sauce, and cheese, and it is packaged for freezer storage; however, it lists no artificial additives, with only natural flavorings and standard processing steps like seasoning and cooking.

How does the sugar and salt content in this product affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With only 1.8 g of sugars and 0.53 g of salt per 100 g, the meal is relatively low in both, making it a better choice for diabetics and people monitoring blood pressure compared with many other frozen meals, though portion size should still be considered to stay within daily limits.

Is Spicy Black Bean & Chicken suitable for strict diets like Vegan, Keto, Halal, or Gluten‑Free?

The product is gluten‑free but not vegan or vegetarian because it contains chicken and cheese, it is not keto‑friendly due to 6.9 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, and it does not meet Halal standards as it includes honey and dairy without certification.

Healthy Choice • 276g

SPICY BLACK BEAN & CHICKEN

Composite Foods

Product Insights

Spicy Black Bean & Chicken is a ready‑to‑heat frozen one‑dish meal classified as a composite food. It carries a Nutri‑Score of A and falls into NOVA group 4, indicating an ultra‑processed product, yet it provides a good amount of protein (7.2 g per 100 g) and fiber (2.5 g) with relatively low fat, saturated fat and sugar. The meal is gluten‑free but contains milk, so it is not suitable for those with dairy allergies.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal76 kcal

Added Sugars1.1 g

Iron0.9 mg

Comparative Analysis

Compared with typical frozen meals, this product contains about half the fat, less than a third the salt, and far fewer sugars, while delivering slightly more fiber and far fewer calories.

Ingredients

SEASONED COOKED CHICKEN (CHICKEN BREAST, WATER, OLIVE OIL, BROWN SUGAR, SEA SALT, NATURAL FLAVORINGS), CAULIFLOWER, SAUCE (CHICKEN BROTH, TOMATO PASTE, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, HONEY, ANCHO CHILE, GUAJILLO CHILE, TAPIOCA STARCH, SERRANO PEPPER PUREE, OLIVE OIL, SALT, CUMIN, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, OREGANO), COOKED BLACK BEANS, RED BELL PEPPERS, JALAPENO PEPPERS, ONIONS, CHARD, KALE, COTIJA CHEESE (CULTURED PART-SKIM MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), SPINACH, SALT. CONTAINS: MILK.

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