Why is Plant Chef Cumberland Style Meat Free Bangers classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is made from a long list of refined plant ingredients, stabilisers and colourings such as methyl cellulose (E461), beetroot red (E162) and citric acid (E330); the use of these processed components places the sausage in the NOVA 4 ultra‑processed group.

How does the low sugar and low salt content of this sausage affect suitability for diabetic or hypertensive diets?

With only 0.25 g of sugar and less than 0.01 g of salt per 100 g, the product adds minimal glucose or sodium, making it a reasonably safe choice for people managing blood‑sugar levels or blood pressure, provided the overall diet remains balanced.

Is the pea protein used in these bangers a potential allergen for people with legume sensitivities, and is the product gluten‑free?

Pea protein is derived from peas, a legume, so it may trigger reactions in individuals allergic to legumes, but the recipe contains no wheat‑based ingredients, making the sausage suitable for a gluten‑free diet.

Tesco

Plant Chef Cumberland Style Meat Free Bangers

Meat Alternatives

Product Insights

Plant Chef Cumberland Style Meat Free Bangers, sold by Tesco, are a vegan, plant‑based sausage that belongs to the plant‑based protein family. The product provides 84 kcal per 100 g, with 5.1 g total fat (including 1.05 g saturated), 4.35 g protein, 2.8 g fibre, only 0.25 g sugars and negligible salt, but it carries no official Nutri‑Score and is classified in NOVA group 4. Its EcoScore of B (68) reflects relatively good environmental performance, yet the formulation includes several processing aids and colourings that keep it in the ultra‑processed category.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal85 kcal

Fat5.1 g

Saturated Fat1.1 g

Carbohydrates3.8 g

Sugars0.3 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average meat‑alternative sausage, this product contains about one‑quarter of the sugar, just over half the fat, less than a third of the protein and only 84 kcal per 100 g versus the category average of 192 kcal.

Ingredients

Water, Pea Protein (11%), Onion, Rapeseed Oil, Closed Cup Mushroom, Stabiliser (Methyl Cellulose), Rice Flour, Dried Potato, Shea Fat, Chickpea Flour, Bamboo Fibre, Yeast Extract, Coconut Oil, Parsley, Black Pepper, Flavourings, Sugar, Salt, Sea Salt, Cornflour, Thyme, Sage, Marjoram, Maltodextrin, Caramelised Sugar, Dextrose, Colour (Beetroot Red), Black Pepper Extract, Ferric Diphosphate, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Zinc Oxide, Vitamin B12.

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.