Why is "THE AMERICAN" Pepperoni classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The pizza is built from many industrial ingredients, including refined wheat flour, processed cheese, cured pork and a range of food‑grade additives; the label lists E160c (paprika extract), E250 (sodium nitrite), E300 (ascorbic acid), E301 (sodium ascorbate) and E392 (rosemary extract), which together place it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category.

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

With 3.2 g of sugars and 0.74 g of salt per 100 g, the pizza offers lower sugar than many frozen pizzas but still contributes a moderate amount of sodium; diabetics should monitor portion size for total carbohydrate intake, and hypertensive individuals should consider the salt contribution when counting daily sodium limits.

Based on the ingredients, is this pizza suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

The product contains pork, mozzarella cheese and wheat‑based flour, so it is not vegan, not halal, and not gluten‑free; its carbohydrate level (≈33.7 g per 100 g) also makes it unsuitable for strict keto diets.

TESCO

THE AMERICAN PEPPERONI STONEBAKED

Composite Foods

Product Insights

"THE AMERICAN" Pepperoni is a frozen, ready‑to‑heat pizza from Tesco, classified under the composite foods group (pizza pies and quiches). It carries a Nutri‑Score of C and is placed in NOVA group 4, indicating an ultra‑processed product that combines a moderate protein content (12.5 g per 100 g) with relatively low sugar (3.2 g) and salt (0.74 g) but a noticeable amount of fat (7.97 g) and five food‑grade additives (E160c, E250, E300, E301, E392). Allergens present include gluten, milk and pork, so it is unsuitable for consumers with those sensitivities.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal62 kcal

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average frozen pizza, it contains noticeably less fat, saturated fat, salt and sugars while delivering more protein and fiber and about 30% fewer calories per 100 g.

Ingredients

Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin], Mozzarella Medium Fat Soft Cheese (Milk), Tomato Purée, Smoked Pepperoni (12%) [Pork, Durum Wheat Semolina, Salt, Dextrose, Paprika Extract, Cayenne Pepper, Antioxidants (Extracts of Rosemary, Sodium Ascorbate), Garlic, Paprika, Pepper Extract, Preservative (Sodium Nitrite)], Tomato, Water, Semolina (Wheat), Rapeseed Oil, Basil, Salt, Yeast, Malted Wheat Flour, Lemon Juice, Maize Starch, Garlic Purée, Flour Treatment Agent (Ascorbic Acid). Made using EU pork. Allergy Advice For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold.

84%

35%

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