Why is Special Mexican Style Rice classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It combines a cooked rice base with numerous industrial ingredients – added sunflower oil, sugar, flavorings, colourings (E100 curcumin and E160c paprika extract) and a range of spices and extracts – which are produced off‑site and blended together, meeting the NOVA 4 criteria for ultra‑processed foods. The only listed additives are the two colourants E100 and E160c; flavorings are also present but not individually listed.

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

With 1.5 g of sugar and 0.21 g of salt per 100 g, the rice adds only a modest amount of sugar and a low level of sodium compared with many ready meals, so it can fit into a controlled‑carb or low‑sodium plan, but portions should still be counted because the sugar contributes to overall daily intake and any added sodium accumulates when combined with other salty foods.

Based on the ingredients, is Special Mexican Style Rice suitable for strict diets such as vegan, keto, halal or gluten‑free?

The ingredient list contains only plant‑derived items, so it is vegan, halal‑compatible and gluten‑free; however, the carbohydrate content (≈35 g per 100 g) and added sugar make it unsuitable for a strict keto regimen.

WORLDWIDE FOODS • 250 grams

SPECIAL MEXICAN STYLE RICE

Cereals And Potatoes

Product Insights

Special Mexican Style Rice is a ready‑to‑eat, vegetarian rice dish marketed by Worldwide Foods and sold at Aldi, composed mainly of cooked long‑grain rice, red pepper, tomato puree and a blend of spices and vegetable oils. It belongs to the Cereals and Potatoes group, carries a Nutri‑Score of B and is classified as NOVA 4 ultra‑processed, providing 149 kcal, 35.6 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein, 2.9 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 1.5 g sugars and 0.21 g salt per 100 g, with low levels of fat, sugar and salt but modest protein and fiber. The product’s nutritional profile is relatively low in added sugars and salt, yet it includes added sugar, flavorings and colour additives (E100, E160c) and may not meet the needs of low‑carb or highly restrictive diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal75 kcal

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average prepared rice, this product contains far less sugar (1.5 g vs 9 g), fat (2.9 g vs 6.94 g), saturated fat and salt (0.21 g vs 2.96 g), but also provides lower protein (3 g vs 9.76 g) and fewer carbohydrates (35.6 g vs 63.97 g per 100 g).

Ingredients

COOKED LONG GRAIN RICE (85%) (Water, Long Grain Rice), RED PEPPER (6%), TOMATO PUREE (4%), Sunflower Oil, Sugar, Water, GREEN JALAPEÑO CHILLI (0.5%), Yeast Extract Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Cumin Powder, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Flavourings, Salt, Chilli Powder, Colours: Paprika Extract, Curcumin; Turmeric Powder, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper.

84%

35%

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