Why is Beef with onions and Chinese noodles with vegetables classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is classified as ultra-processed because the meal is a pre-cooked, frozen convenience product that includes refined wheat flour, modified rice starch, added sugar, sunflower oil, a turmeric colourant, caramel (E150) and flavor enhancers such as soy sauce, fish sauce and mirin, all of which result from multiple industrial processing steps, placing it in the NOVA 4 category.

Based on its ingredients, is Beef with onions and Chinese noodles with vegetables suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten-free diets?

No; the dish contains beef, egg, wheat flour and soy, so it is not vegan, not gluten-free, and the high carbohydrate content from wheat noodles makes it unsuitable for a keto diet, while the presence of fish sauce with anchovies and a small amount of mirin (alcohol) means it cannot be considered certified halal.

Cuisine Évasion, Picard • 350 g e

Bœuf aux oignons et nouilles chinoises aux légumes

Q: How does the sugar and salt content in Beef with onions and Chinese noodles with vegetables affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

The product provides only 2.4 g of sugar per 100 g, which is relatively low and unlikely to cause a rapid blood glucose rise, but it also contains 0.79 g of salt per 100 g (about 2.8 g in a 350 g package), so individuals managing hypertension should monitor portion size to keep total sodium intake within recommended limits.

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

Beef with onions and Chinese noodles with vegetables is a French frozen ready-to-heat entree that combines sliced beef, Chinese wheat noodles, onions, carrots, soybeans, shiitake mushrooms and a savory Asian sauce. It falls within the PNNS 'Cereals and potatoes' group, carries a Nutri-Score of B, but is classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and contains several allergens (egg, fish, gluten, soy, sesame) as well as additives such as caramel (E150) and turmeric colour. Nutritionally it supplies 8.7 g of protein per 100 g, low sugars (2.4 g) and moderate salt (0.79 g), though its overall fat content is moderate and the product adds sugars and oil, making it a balanced yet processed meal option.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal126 kcal

Fat4.3 g

Saturated Fat0.8 g

Carbohydrates12 g

Sugars2.4 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average for similar frozen meals (9 g sugar, 6.9 g fat, 2.96 g salt per 100 g), this dish contains only 2.4 g sugar and 0.79 g salt while delivering 8.7 g protein, making it lower in sugar and sodium but slightly lower in protein than the category average.

Ingredients

Nouille chinoise cuite 24,8 % [farine de blé (gluten), eau, œuf entier liquide pasteurisé, huile de tournesol, colorant : curcuma], émincé de viande de bœuf assaisonnée cuite 20% [viande bovine 19,2 % (France), fécule de manioc, sel], eau, oignon 15,3 %, carotte 4,3 %, graine de soja 4,3%, champignon shiitaké 4,3 %, sauce soja 2,9 % [eau, graine de soja, farine de blé (gluten), sel], huile de tournesol, sucre, gingembre, amidon transformé de riz, caramel 0,5 %, ail, oignon en poudre 0,4 %, sauce nuoc mam [anchois (poissons), sel, eau], galangal, vinaigre de riz, huile de sésame, jus de citron vert, coriandre, basilic thaï, mirin (sirop de glucose de tapioca, eau, riz gluant, alcool, sel, riz).

84%

35%

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