Why is Il mio Dado vegetale classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The cube is a dehydrated broth concentrate that undergoes multiple processing steps and includes added flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (E621), disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate, as well as palm oil, sugar and celery seed, which places it in the NOVA 4 category for ultra‑processed foods.

How does the high salt content in this product affect a hypertensive diet?

With 21.7 g of sodium per 100 g, a single serving of the cube can contribute a large portion of the recommended daily sodium limit, potentially raising blood pressure; therefore people with hypertension should use it sparingly or choose a lower‑salt alternative.

Is Il mio Dado vegetale suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, and other strict diets?

Yes, the product contains only plant‑based ingredients and is labeled gluten‑free and lactose‑free, making it suitable for vegan and many allergy‑free diets, but it does contain palm oil (which raises sustainability concerns) and celery, an allergen, and its very high sodium level may be unsuitable for low‑salt regimens.

Star • 200g

Il mio Dado vegetale

Dried Products

Product Insights

Il mio Dado vegetale is a vegetable bouillon cube sold by the Star brand in 200 g packs, available at Esselunga stores across Italy, France and Switzerland. It is classified as a NOVA 4 ultra‑processed product and contains high levels of saturated fat (14 g) and sodium (21.7 g per 100 g), with palm oil, monosodium glutamate, guanylate and inosinate as added flavor enhancers, while providing a modest 9 g of protein and 4.3 % vegetable content. The cube falls under the soup stocks and bouillon dietary family, is vegan, gluten‑free and lactose‑free, but includes celery as an allergen and a very high salt load, making it unsuitable for low‑sodium diets.

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal271 kcal

Fat23 g

Saturated Fat14 g

Carbohydrates6.5 g

Sugars2.5 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with typical bouillon cubes, this product is unusually high in saturated fat and sodium while offering modest protein from vegetable extracts.

Ingredients

Sale iodato (48,5%) (sale, iodato di potassio 0,005%) - Grasso vegetale di palma - Esaltatore di sapidità: glutammato monosodico, guanilato disodico e inosinato disodico - Estratto per brodo - Verdure 4,3% (cipolla 1,9%, carota 1%, prezzemolo 0,5%, patata 0,3%, porro 0,2%, pomodoro 0,1%, sedano 0,1%, spinacio 0,1%,aglio 0,1%) - Aromi (con sedano) - Zucchero - Semi di sedano - Spezie

84%

35%

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