Why is mini falafel classified as NOVA 3 and what additives does it contain?

The product is labelled NOVA 3 because it is made from rehydrated chickpeas, added starches, vegetable oil and a small amount of sodium bicarbonate (E500ii) used as a leavening agent; these processing steps place it in the moderate‑processing category, and the only listed additive is the bicarbonate, with no preservatives added.

How do the sugar and salt levels in this mini falafel affect diabetic or hypertensive diets?

With 3.5 g of sugar per 100 g, the falafel is low in sugar and therefore has minimal impact on blood‑glucose spikes, but the 1.4 g of salt exceeds the average for similar products and could contribute to higher sodium intake, which is a concern for people managing hypertension.

Is this mini falafel suitable for vegan and gluten‑free diets?

The product contains only plant‑derived ingredients, so it is suitable for a vegan diet, but it includes wheat flour, which introduces gluten, and also contains cashew nuts and sesame seeds, making it unsuitable for gluten‑free or nut‑free diets.

Blini • 120 g

mini falafels pois chiches français

Plant Based Foods And Beverages

Product Insights

Mini falafel made from French chickpeas is a refrigerated, plant‑based snack classified as a legume‑based product. It carries a Nutri‑Score of A and is placed in NOVA group 3, indicating moderate processing; the 100 g serving provides 227 kcal, 8.4 g protein and 6 g fiber while containing 10 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat and 1.4 g salt. The formulation includes wheat flour, cashew nuts and sesame seeds, so it is not gluten‑free or nut‑free, and it lists sodium bicarbonate (E500ii) as the only additive and contains no preservatives.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal227 kcal

Fat10 g

Saturated Fat1.5 g

Carbohydrates22 g

Sugars3.5 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with typical plant‑based meat alternatives, this mini falafel contains less sugar, fat and saturated fat, but more salt, while delivering higher protein and fiber per 100 g.

Ingredients

Pois chiche réhydraté 43% (pois chiche, eau) - oignon - carotte 8,8% - noix de cajou 5,8% - fécule de pomme de terre - coriandre - farine de blé - zeste de citron - graines de sésame - farine de pois chiche - huile de tournesol - ail - jus de citron - sel - sambal oelek - épices (cumin, piment de Cayenne) - acidifiant : bicarbonate de sodium. Traces possibles de céleri, crustacés, autres fruits à coque, lait, mollusques, moutarde, oeuf, poissons, soja, sulfites.

84%

35%

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