Why is Cookies classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is labeled NOVA 4 because the formulation relies on refined wheat flour, added sugars, vegetable fat and a suite of food-industry additives; the label list shows colourant E150 (caramel), emulsifiers E322 and E322i (soy lecithin), raising agents E450 and E450i (disodium diphosphate), emulsifier E472e and anti-caking agent E502, all characteristic of ultra-processed products.

How does the sugar and salt content in these cookies affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

The 33 g of sugar per 100 g can cause rapid blood-glucose spikes, making these cookies unsuitable for people managing diabetes, while the 0.53 g of salt per 100 g is relatively low but still contributes to overall sodium intake, which may be a concern for hypertensive individuals if consumed in large quantities.

Is the wheat flour in this product a concern for people with gluten intolerance?

Yes, the primary ingredient is wheat flour, which contains gluten, so the cookies are not safe for individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Hacendado • 225 g

Cookies

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Cookies are a 225 g pack of chocolate chip biscuits offered by the Hacendado brand at Mercadona, featuring a blend of dark chocolate chunks, milk chocolate chips, wheat flour dough and a hint of natural caramel. They belong to the PNNS groups "Sugary snacks" and "Biscuits and cakes", carry a Nutri-Score of E and are classified in NOVA group 4, reflecting an ultra-processed product with high sugar (33 g per 100 g), high saturated fat (13.9 g per 100 g), moderate salt (0.53 g per 100 g) and an energy content of about 495 kcal per 100 g. While they provide a modest 4.3 g of dietary fiber per 100 g and satisfy sweet cravings, they also contain several additives (E150 colour, emulsifiers E322, E322i, E450, E450i, E472e, E502) and common allergens (gluten, milk, soy), making them unsuitable for low-additive, low-sugar or gluten-free diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal496 kcal

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average values for similar biscuits, this product contains more sugar (33.1 g vs 28.98 g) and saturated fat (13.9 g vs 7.8 g) per 100 g, while its salt (0.53 g) is well below the average 1.98 g and its energy (~495 kcal) exceeds the category median of 418 kcal.

Ingredients

wheat flour, dark chocolate chips 29 % (sugar, cocoa paste, cocoa butter, dextrose, emulsifier (soy lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring), sugar, vegetable fat (palm), milk chocolate chips 11% (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa paste, lactose (milk), emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring), colour (natural caramel), wheat starch, glucose and fructose syrup, concentrated butter (milk), raising agents (sodium carbonate acid, ammonium acid carbonate, disodium diphosphate), salt, emulsifier (e472e), flavouring,

84%

35%

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