Why is Sable de Retz Le Veritable classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product is placed in the NOVA 4 category because its formulation relies on refined wheat flour, added sugars, vegetable oil and a blend of food-grade additives such as ammonium carbonate (E503), sodium salts, citric acid (E330) and soy-derived lecithin (E322/E322i), which indicates multiple processing steps beyond simple cooking.

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

With 27 g of sugar per 100 g, the biscuit can cause a rapid rise in blood glucose, making it unsuitable as a regular snack for people managing diabetes, while its 0.61 g of salt per 100 g adds roughly 30% of the recommended daily limit for sodium, which may be a concern for individuals with hypertension.

Is the soy lecithin used as an emulsifier in this product a concern for consumers with soy allergy?

Soy lecithin is a highly processed soy derivative that generally contains only trace amounts of soy protein, so most people with a mild soy allergy can tolerate it, but those with severe soy hypersensitivity should avoid the biscuit altogether because a residual allergen risk remains.

St Michel • 120 g

Sablé de Retz Le Véritable

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Sable de Retz Le Veritable is a French shortbread cookie made with wheat flour, coconut, sunflower oil, skimmed milk powder and soy lecithin, classified under the Sugary snacks and Biscuits and cakes groups. It carries a Nutri-Score of D and falls into NOVA 4, indicating an ultra-processed product that contains added sugars (27 g per 100 g), moderate salt (0.61 g per 100 g) and several allergens (gluten, milk and soy). While the coconut adds a modest amount of dietary fiber and the product is palm-oil-free and made in France, its high sugar content and processing level limit its suitability for health-focused diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal459 kcal

Fat13 g

Saturated Fat4.7 g

Carbohydrates76 g

Sugars27 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack in its category, Sable de Retz Le Veritable offers slightly lower sugar (27 g vs 28.98 g per 100 g), about half the saturated fat (4.7 g vs 7.8 g), and far less salt (0.61 g vs 1.98 g), while providing a higher energy content (~462 kcal vs 418 kcal).

Ingredients

Farine de _blé_ 65%, sucre, noix de coco râpée 9.9%, huile de tournesol, poudres à lever (carbonates d'ammonium, sodium, acide citrique), sel, _lait_ écrémé en poudre, émulsifiant : lécithines de _soja_

84%

35%

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