Why is Wiggles the Caterpillar classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and which additives does it contain?

The cake combines refined sugars, wheat flour, multiple dairy powders, and a range of industrial ingredients such as emulsifiers (soya lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides of fatty acids), colourants (E140, E140i, E161b, E162, E171), preservatives (E260 acetic acid, E202 potassium sorbate), acidity regulator (E262i sodium acetate) and glazing agents, which are typical of ultra‑processed foods and place it in NOVA 4.

How does the high sugar and saturated‑fat content affect people with diabetes or high blood pressure?

The 42.6 g of sugar per 100 g can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose, making the product unsuitable for diabetic meal plans, while the 10.5 g of saturated fat may raise LDL cholesterol. Although the salt level (0.54 g) is below the average for snacks, the overall high energy density (420 kcal) can contribute to weight gain if consumed frequently, which is a risk factor for hypertension.

Is this cake suitable for vegan, keto, or gluten‑free diets?

No. The recipe contains dairy (milk, butter, whey), eggs, wheat flour and soy, all of which are excluded from vegan, keto and gluten‑free regimes. It also includes palm oil and several additives that are not compatible with strict plant‑based or low‑carb diets.

Sainsbury's • 14

Wiggles the caterpillar

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Wiggles the Caterpillar is a chocolate‑coated soft cake marketed by Sainsbury's, classified in the Sugary snacks group. It carries a Nutri‑Score of E and falls in NOVA 4, indicating an ultra‑processed product with high added sugar (42.6 g/100 g), a high saturated‑fat content (10.5 g) and modest salt (0.54 g), while providing modest fiber (2.8 g) and protein (5.5 g). The formulation contains multiple dairy and egg allergens, palm‑derived oils, and several emulsifiers, colour additives and preservatives, which may be concerns for allergen‑sensitive or health‑conscious consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal417 kcal

Fat18.7 g

Saturated Fat11.3 g

Carbohydrates55.8 g

Sugars41.9 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack, it contains markedly more sugar (42.6 g vs 28.98 g) and saturated fat (10.5 g vs 7.8 g), slightly less salt (0.54 g vs 1.98 g) and similar total fat and energy.

Ingredients

Sugar, Milk Chocolate Coating (21%) (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Skimmed Cows Milk Powder, Whey Powder (Cows' Milk), Butterfat (Cows' Milk), Vegetable Oils (Palm Oil, Sal Fat, Mango Kemel Oil, Shea Oil), Emulsifier: Soya Lecithin), Fortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Butter (Cows' Milk), Glucose Syrup, Pasteurised Free Range Egg, Caterpillar Face (4.0%) (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Cows' Milk Powder, Skimmed Cows' Milk Powder, Emulsifier: Soya Lecithin; Vanilla Extract, Cocoa Mass, Flavouring), Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Chocolate Boots (3.0%) (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Cows' Milk Powder, Skimmed Cows' Milk Powder, Emulsifier: Soya Lecithin; Flavouring), Soya Flour, Sugar Coated Milk Chocolate Beans (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whey Powder (Cows' Milk), Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder, Cows' Milk Powder, Emulsifier: Sunflower Lecithin; Glazing Agents: Acacia Gum, Carmauba Wax, Beeswax, Shellac; Colours: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Riboflavin%3; Safflower Concentrate, Spirulina Concentrate), Grape Juice from Concentrate, Humectant: Glycerol; Invert Sugar Syrup, Rice Starch, Skimmed Cows' Milk Powder, Sugar Strand Mix (Sugar, Maize Starch, Palm Oil, Water, Emulsifier: Rapeseed Lecithin; Colours: Paprika, Lutein, Beetroot Red, Chlorophyll; Glazing Agents: Acacia Gum, Shellac), Raising Agents: Disodium Diphosphate, Sodium Carbonate; Palm Oil, Emulsifiers: Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids; Comflour, Acidity Regulator: Sodium Acetate; Salt, Preservatives: Acetic Acid, Potassium Sorbate; Rapeseed Oil, Maize Starch, Flavouring, Dried Free Range Egg White.

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