Why is 35 plants salad classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is labelled NOVA 4 because the salad is assembled from many industrially prepared components such as Greek‑style yogurt, refined vegetable oils, pre‑cooked grains and a formulated dressing, which involve multiple processing steps; however the ingredient list does not include any listed food additives, so the product contains no added emulsifiers, preservatives or flavor enhancers.

How does the salt content in this salad impact a hypertensive or low‑sodium diet?

With 0.54 g of salt per 100 g, the salad provides far less sodium than the typical prepared‑salad average of 3.55 g, making it a relatively low‑sodium option for people managing high blood pressure, though the sodium it does contain comes mainly from the yogurt and dressing.

Is this salad suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or other strict dietary regimes?

No; the product contains Greek‑style yogurt (milk) and spelt (wheat), so it is not vegan or gluten‑free, and it also lists sesame, soy (edamame) and apple as allergens, limiting its suitability for some allergen‑restricted diets, although it is fully vegetarian.

Marks and Spencer • 280 g

35 plants salad

Composite Foods

Product Insights

The 35 plants salad is a ready‑to‑serve prepared salad that falls under the Composite foods / One‑dish meals category. It carries a Nutri‑Score of B and is classified as a NOVA 4 ultra‑processed product, offering 5.5 g of fat, 2.8 g of fiber and only 2.5 g of sugars per 100 g, but also providing 0.54 g of salt and 3.8 g of protein. While it is vegetarian and free from added sugars, it contains dairy, gluten from spelt, sesame and soy, which may limit suitability for vegan, gluten‑free or allergen‑sensitive consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Added Sugars0.8 g

Fruits & Vegetables15.3 %

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average prepared‑salad, this product delivers markedly less salt (0.54 g vs 3.55 g per 100 g) while providing slightly more fiber (2.8 g vs 2.08 g) and lower sugars (2.5 g vs 3.57 g), though its protein content is below the category average.

Ingredients

Cos lettuce, green tahini live yogurt dressing (Greek style yogurt (milk), lemon juice, tahini (sesame seed paste), spinach, maple syrup, roasted carrot purée, vegetable oil (sunflower/rapeseed), coriander, parsley, salt, mint, ground spices (black pepper, cumin, coriander), chicory fibre, citrus fibre, oat fibre), tenderstem broccoli, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, courgette, cooked rice (water, red rice, wild rice), carrots, cooked quinoa (water, quinoa seeds, red quinoa seeds), cooked lentils (water, lentils), water, peas, kale, red cabbage, edamame soybeans, cooked spelt (water, spelt (wheat)), green beans, cucumber, black beans, sunflower seeds, radish, pumpkin seeds, apples, cabbage, cauliflower, red onions, spring onions, golden linseed, sesame seeds, rapeseed oil, coriander, paprika flakes, mint, salt, lemon juice, smoked paprika

84%

35%

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