Why is Menthol Extra Strong Without Sugar classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

NOVA 4 includes products made with industrial formulations, multiple processing steps and additives; this candy combines polyol sweeteners, several herbal extracts, natural flavorings and the food additive E953 (isomalt), all of which are typical of ultra‑processed foods.

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

The candy contains no sugar, which avoids raising blood glucose, but its 98 g of polyol carbohydrates can still impact blood sugar in large amounts; the low salt level (0.1 g per 100 g) makes it suitable for hypertensive diets, though the high carbohydrate load should be considered in overall daily intake.

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

All ingredients are plant‑based, so the candy is vegan and gluten‑free; however, the high amount of carbohydrates from isomalt and stevia makes it unsuitable for a keto diet, and while no animal‑derived components are listed, halal certification would require confirmation from the manufacturer.

Ricola

Menthol Extra Stark Ohne Zucker

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

This product is a sugar‑free hard mint candy marketed as “Menthol Extra Strong” and belongs to the “Sugary snacks” and “Sweets” PNNS groups. It carries a Nutri‑Score of B, falls into the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category, and is low in fat, saturated fat and salt while providing 239 kcal and 98 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, most of which come from polyol sweeteners such as isomalt and stevia. However, the high polyol load may cause digestive discomfort for some consumers, and the presence of the additive E953 (isomalt) and multiple herbal extracts makes it less suitable for those seeking minimally processed foods.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal239 kcal

Fat0 g

Saturated Fat0 g

Carbohydrates98 g

Sugars0 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average hard‑candy profile, this mint candy contains virtually no sugar (0 g vs 53.44 g average) and less fat (0 g vs 10.52 g) and salt (0.1 g vs 0.36 g), but it supplies more carbohydrates (98 g vs 69.87 g) and slightly fewer calories (239 kcal vs 373.36 kcal) per 100 g.

Ingredients

Süßungsmittel (Isomalt), Menthol, Kräuterauszüe (0,4%) aus Zitronenmelisse sowie Spitzwegerich, Eibisch, Pfefferminze, Tymian, Salbei, Frauenmantel, Schafgabe, Bibernelle, Malve, Holunderblüten, Schlüsselblume, Ehrenpreis und Andorn), Konzentrate (Spirulina, Karotte), natürliches Aroma, Süßungsmittel (Stevioglycoside aus Stevia), Pfefferminzöl, Salz

84%

35%

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