Why is the Falafel & Houmous Wrap classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The wrap combines refined wheat flour, multiple processed vegetable purées, dried potato, palm oil and a range of technical agents, which places it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category. Its ingredient list includes additives such as calcium carbonate (E170), calcium carbonate (E170i), malic acid (E296), citric acid (E330), glycerol (E422), disodium diphosphate (E450), sodium bicarbonate (E500), calcium polyphosphate (E500ii), various raising agents (E452, E452iv) and other stabilisers.

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

With 5.98 g of sugar per 100 g, the wrap can cause a noticeable rise in blood glucose, so people with diabetes should consume it only in controlled portions. The 0.57 g of salt (≈0.23 g sodium) is moderate but still contributes to daily sodium limits, making it less ideal for strict hypertensive diets that require low‑salt foods.

Based on its ingredients, is the Falafel & Houmous Wrap suitable for strict diets such as vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free?

The product is vegan, containing no animal‑derived ingredients, but it is not gluten‑free because it includes wheat flour. Its carbohydrate level (≈31 g per 100 g) is too high for a ketogenic diet, and while it contains no explicit non‑halal components, the presence of palm oil and processed additives means halal certification would need to be verified.

Tesco

Falafel & Houmous Wrap

Composite Foods

Product Insights

The Falafel & Houmous Wrap from Tesco is a vegan‑labelled composite food classified as a vegetarian wrap (sandwich). It carries a Nutri‑Score of B, provides 231 kcal per 100 g, 5.7 g protein, 4 g fiber and 42 % fruit‑vegetable‑legume content, while containing moderate sugar (6 g), moderate salt (0.57 g) and low saturated fat (1.9 g). The product is ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and includes several additives such as E170, E296, E330 and a small amount of palm oil, which raises environmental concerns.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

moderate

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Added Sugars0.3 g

Fruits & Vegetables42.6 %

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average vegetarian wrap, this wrap delivers about one‑quarter the fat (8.6 g vs 19 g), roughly one‑fifth the salt (0.57 g vs 3.2 g) and 37 % fewer calories (231 kcal vs 366 kcal), but its sugar content is higher than average (6 g vs 4.5 g) and it supplies far less protein (5.7 g vs 18.4 g).

Ingredients

Water, Wheat Flour, Carrot and Coriander Falafel (20%) [Chickpeas, Carrot, Onion, Dried Potato, Wheat Flour, Coriander Leaf, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Cumin, Coriander, Cumin Seeds, Black Pepper, Turmeric, Parsley, Water, Raising Agents (Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Polyphosphate), Garlic Powder, Yeast], Carrot, Chickpeas, Spinach, Sugar, Palm Oil, Mango, Malt Vinegar (Barley), Apple, Apricot, Sunflower Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Humectant (Glycerol), Tomato Powder, Dried Onion, Salt, Raising Agents (Sodium Bicarbonate, Disodium Diphosphate), Ginger, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Malic Acid), Cornflour, Garlic Powder, Bell Pepper Powder, Paprika, Coriander, Basil, Coriander Powder, Ground Ginger, Wheat Starch. Wheat Flour contains: Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin.

84%

35%

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