Why is Vegetable couscous and kefta meatballs classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The meal is marked as NOVA 4 because it combines many industrially processed components such as pre‑cooked beef kefta, bread crumbs, maltodextrin, added sugar, and a blend of spices, and it also includes food‑grade additives like xanthan gum (E415) used as a thickener, natural flavourings, and small amounts of malt extract, all of which are typical of ultra‑processed foods.

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

With 2.8 g of sugars per 100 g, the product is relatively low‑sugar and unlikely to cause a rapid blood‑glucose spike, but diabetic individuals should still account for it within their total carbohydrate budget. The salt level of 0.85 g per 100 g is well under the average for frozen meals, making it a safer option for people managing hypertension, although total daily sodium intake should still be monitored.

Based on the ingredient list, is this product suitable for strict diets such as vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free?

The dish contains beef kefta, so it is not vegan or vegetarian. It includes wheat flour and bread crumbs, which introduce gluten, making it unsuitable for gluten‑free diets. The carbohydrate content (6.4 g per 100 g) is higher than typical keto limits, so it is not keto‑friendly. Halal suitability cannot be confirmed because the beef source is not labelled as certified halal.

Thiriet • 900 g

Légumes couscous et boulettes kefta

Composite Foods

Product Insights

Vegetable couscous with beef kefta meatballs is a frozen one‑dish meal classified in the Composite foods and One‑dish meals groups. Per 100 g it provides 92 kcal, 5.1 g protein and 1.6 g fiber while containing 4.8 g fat (1.3 g saturated), 6.4 g carbohydrates and only 2.8 g sugars, and its salt level of 0.85 g is well below the typical average for similar meals. The product carries a Nutri‑Score of C and falls into NOVA group 4, indicating it is an ultra‑processed meal that includes additives such as xanthan gum, maltodextrin and added sugars, which tempers its otherwise modest fat and salt content.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal92 kcal

Fat4.8 g

Saturated Fat1.3 g

Carbohydrates6.4 g

Sugars2.8 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average values for frozen meals, this couscous dish has lower fat (4.8 g vs 5.94 g), lower saturated fat (1.3 g vs 1.94 g), markedly lower salt (0.85 g vs 3.55 g) and sugars (2.8 g vs 3.57 g), but also delivers less protein (5.1 g vs 7.16 g) and fiber (1.6 g vs 2.08 g) and contains far fewer total carbohydrates (6.4 g vs 23 g).

Ingredients

Courgette 23,5%, boulette kefta à la viande bovine hachée assaisonnée cuite 17,3% (viande bovine (origine France), eau, chapelure (farine de blé (gluten (blé)), sel), sel, vinaigre, maltodextrine, sucre, épices, plantes aromatiques, huile de tournesol, amidon, betterave rouge déshydratée, arômes naturels), eau, poivron rouge 10,5%, carotte cuite 9,4%, oignon 6,1%, fève 5,2%, pois chiche 4,7% (pois chiche, eau, sel), purée de tomate double concentrée, huile d'olive vierge extra 2,2%, épices et plantes aromatiques, miel, sel, oignon en poudre, ail en purée, farine de blé (gluten (blé)), extrait de malt, épaississant : gomme xanthane.

84%

35%

Unlock What Your Food Doesn't Tell You

Scan this and millions of other food products to discover hidden positive & negative points, scores percentage, additives, allergens, and deeper product insights with the free NutrScan app.