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

The cubes receive a NOVA 4 rating because they combine many industrially processed ingredients such as refined vegetable oils (including palm oil), glucose syrup, added sugars, yeast extract, flavourings, maltodextrin and a blend of herbs and spices, all of which are manufactured or modified before being mixed into the final product.

How does the sugar and salt content in these stock cubes affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

The sugar level is extremely low (0.5 g per 100 g), so it does not pose a risk for blood‑glucose control in diabetes, but the salt content is relatively high at 0.75 g per 100 g, which can contribute to increased sodium intake and may be problematic for people monitoring blood pressure.

Is the palm oil used in this stock cube a concern for sustainability or allergens?

Palm oil is present in the vegetable‑oil blend, raising sustainability concerns because its production is linked to deforestation and threatened species; however, it is not a common allergen and does not trigger typical food‑allergy reactions for most consumers.

Asda • 120g

Vegetable Stock Cubes (12 x)

Plant Based Foods And Beverages

Product Insights

Vegetable Stock Cubes (12 × 120 g) from Asda are plant‑based seasoning cubes designed for quick rehydration in soups and sauces, belonging to the “vegetables and sauces” PNNS group. Each 100 g provides only 8 kcal, 0.5 g fat and 0.5 g sugar, but contains 0.75 g of salt and is classified as an ultra‑processed product (NOVA 4); a Nutri‑Score is not displayed on the packaging. The formulation is free from artificial colours and includes modest amounts of palm oil and flavourings, delivering a low‑calorie, low‑sugar option while the relatively high salt level and the presence of palm oil raise dietary and sustainability concerns.

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal8 kcal

Fat0.5 g

Saturated Fat0.2 g

Carbohydrates0.9 g

Sugars0.5 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average dried broth, this stock cube contains only 0.5 g of sugar versus 32.99 g, 0.5 g of fat versus 7.1 g, and 0.75 g of salt versus 5.41 g per 100 g, making it far lower in sugar and fat but relatively higher in salt.

Ingredients

Salt, Potato Starch, Vegetable Oil [Palm Oil, Sunflower Oil], Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Herbs, Spices, Celeriac, Roasted Onions, Dried Carrots, Tomato Powder, Onions, Garlic Powder, Dried Leeks, Flavouring, Red Peppers, Caramel Sugar Syrup, Maltodextrin. Allergy Advice! for allergens, see ingredients in bold. May also contain traces of nuts. NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURS, FLAVOURS OR HYDROGENATED FAT.

84%

35%

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