Why is Palitos de merluza classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

It is labeled NOVA 4 because the formulation includes several industrial additives such as diphosphates (E450i), sodium bicarbonate (E500ii), citric acid (E330), gellan gum (E417), monosodium glutamate (E621) and riboflavin for colouring (E101i), in addition to processed fish paste and breaded coating.

How does the salt content in these fish sticks affect a hypertensive diet?

Each 100 g portion contains 1.91 g of salt (about 770 mg of sodium), which represents roughly one‑third of the daily limit recommended for people with high blood pressure, so it should be consumed in moderation and balanced with low‑salt foods.

Is the wheat (gluten) in the breaded coating a problem for people with gluten intolerance?

Yes, the product uses wheat flour in its breaded coating, so it is not suitable for anyone following a gluten‑free or celiac diet and may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Hacendado • 500g

Palitos de merluza

Fish Meat Eggs

Product Insights

The product is a 500 g bag of frozen breaded hake sticks (fish fingers) marketed by Hacendado and sold at Mercadona. It belongs to the fish and seafood PNNS group, carries a Nutri‑Score of D and is classified in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category, reflecting the presence of several additives and a relatively high salt level of 1.9 g per 100 g. Nutritionally it provides 193 kcal, 4.4 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 6.8 g protein and 1.5 g sugars per 100 g, but also contains gluten, milk, crustacean and mollusc allergens.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal193 kcal

Fat4.4 g

Saturated Fat0.5 g

Carbohydrates31.5 g

Sugars1.5 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average frozen fish product, it delivers more sugar (1.5 g vs 0.98 g) and calories (193 kcal vs 149 kcal) while containing considerably less total fat (4.4 g vs 6.6 g), saturated fat (0.5 g vs 1.3 g) and salt (1.9 g vs 5.3 g).

Ingredients

P PESCADA (PEIXE) (35%), polme (65%): água, pão ralado (farinha de TRIGO (GLUTEN), água, pimentão, sal, curcuma e levedura), (farinha de TRIGO (GLUTEN), amido, óleo de girassol, levedantes (E-450i, E-500ii), sal, regulador de acidez (E-330), sumo de limão concentrado, LACTOSE, espessante (E-417), intensificador de sabor (E-621), alho em pó e corante (E-101i). Pode conter vestígios de leite, ovo, moluscos, crustáceos, soja e mostarda.

84%

35%

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