Why is Buddha bowl mezze classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product combines many ingredients that have been cooked, mixed, and packaged, including rehydrated bulgur, a pre‑cooked falafel blend, concentrated dairy, and multiple oils, which places it in the ultra‑processed category (NOVA 4). Its label lists two food‑grade additives: E300 (ascorbic acid, an antioxidant) and E502 (sodium metasilicate, an anticaking agent).

How does the salt content of this Buddha bowl affect a hypertensive diet?

At 0.82 g of salt per 100 g, the bowl provides markedly less sodium than the average prepared salad (3.55 g/100 g), so it is relatively moderate for blood‑pressure‑conscious consumers, though consuming large portions could still contribute noticeable sodium intake.

Is the Buddha bowl mezze suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or kosher diets?

No, the product is not vegan because it contains Greek yogurt, skimmed milk, and cream. It is not gluten‑free due to wheat‑based bulgur, pita bread, and wheat flour, and it is not kosher for meat‑eaters because of the dairy components, though it contains no pork.

Monoprix • 315 g

Buddha bowl mezze

Composite Foods

Product Insights

The Buddha bowl mezze from Monoprix is a ready‑to‑eat composed salad that combines bulgur, a falafel mix, grilled tomato‑eggplant, Greek yogurt, pita bread, and assorted vegetables and herbs. It delivers 168 kcal per 100 g with moderate fat (12 g), low sugars (2.4 g), 3.2 g fiber, 3.3 g protein, and a Nutri‑Score of C, but it is classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and contains gluten, milk, and sesame allergens together with additives E300 and E502. Overall, the bowl offers a decent amount of vegetables and legumes yet its high fat content, added oils, and processing level make it less suitable for low‑fat or clean‑eating regimes.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal185 kcal

Fat13 g

Saturated Fat2.1 g

Carbohydrates12 g

Sugars2.7 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average prepared salad, this Buddha bowl has about double the fat, less than two‑thirds the sugar, and roughly a quarter of the salt, while delivering slightly fewer calories.

Ingredients

Tomate 15% - yaourt grec 13% [lait de vache écrémé, lait de vache écrémé concentré, crème, ferments lactiques (dont lait)] - aubergine grillée 12% - boulgour réhydraté 11% (eau, blé dur concassé précuit) - tomate cerise - falafels 9,4% [pois chiches 2,6%, fève, carotte, oignon, huile de tournesol, eau, farine de blé, fécule de manioc, ceuf entier en poudre (poules issues d'élevage en plein air), coriandre, sel, purée d'ail, cumin, curcuma, piment fort] - huile de colza - persil 6,6% - huile d'olive vierge extra - pain spécial pita (eau, farine de blé complet, farine de blé, farine d'épeautre, son de blé, gluten de blé, sel, levure) - jus de citron à base de concentré - menthe - mayonnaise [huile de colza, eau, moutarde (eau, graines de moutarde, vinaigre, sel), jaune d'œuf issus de poules élevées en plein air, vinaigre d'alcool, jaune d'oeuf en poudre issus de poules élevées en plein air, jus de citron concentré, sel] - oignon rouge - sel - purée de sésame - oignon-graines de sésame torréfiées - basilic - thym - origan - sumac - ail - zeste de citron jaune-cumin - sucre - poivre blanc.

84%

35%

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