Why is Crosse And Blackwell Branston Pickle classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product mixes a base of pickled vegetables with multiple industrial ingredients such as barley malt vinegar, spirit vinegar, modified maize starch, date paste, and several preservatives and colorings; the presence of E150d (Sulphite Ammonia Caramel) and E223 (Sodium Metabisulphite) qualifies it as ultra‑processed under the NOVA system.

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

With 29 g of sugar and 3.5 g of salt per 100 g, the pickle can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes and increase sodium intake well beyond recommended limits, making it unsuitable as a regular component of diabetic or hypertension‑controlled meal plans.

Based on the ingredient list, is this pickle suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

The formulation contains no animal‑derived ingredients, so it is vegan and likely halal, but the inclusion of barley malt vinegar introduces gluten, disqualifying it from a gluten‑free claim, and the high carbohydrate and sugar levels make it inconsistent with keto diet restrictions.

Mizkan • 720 g

Crosse And Blackwell Branston Pickle 720G

Salty Snacks

Product Insights

Crosse And Blackwell Branston Pickle is a 720 g glass‑jar of plant‑based pickled vegetables marketed as a salty snack. It carries a Nutri‑Score of E and belongs to NOVA group 4, reflecting its ultra‑processed status, and while it is low in fat (0.7 g) and provides 1.8 g of fiber per 100 g, it is very high in sugar (29 g) and salt (3.5 g), which outweigh the modest nutrient benefits. The product falls under the PNNS categories “Salty snacks” and “Salty and fatty products,” highlighting its role as a condiment rather than a health‑focused food.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal157 kcal

Fat0.7 g

Saturated Fat0.2 g

Carbohydrates34 g

Sugars29 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average values for similar foods, this pickle contains far more sugar (29 g vs 2.63 g) and salt (3.5 g vs 2.88 g) while delivering considerably less fat (0.7 g vs 18.9 g).

Ingredients

vegetables in variable proportions (54%) : carrot, rutabaga, onion, cauliflower, marrow, gherkin), sugar, barley malt vinegar, water, spirit vinegar, modified maize starch, date paste (dates, rice flour, apple pulp (apple, preservative : sodium Metabisulphite), Salt, Tomato Paste, Dried Spices, lemon juice Concentrate, Onion powder (Sulphite Ammonia Caramel), flavouring.

84%

35%

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