Why is Tim Tam classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

Tim Tam combines refined sugar, fortified wheat flour, palm oil and a range of industrial additives, which places it in NOVA group 4. Its label lists colourants (E120 cochineal, E150c caramel, E162 beetroot red), emulsifiers (E322 lecithin, E476), raising agents (E503 ammonium bicarbonate, E500 sodium bicarbonate), a sulphite preservative (E223) and other processing aids, all typical of ultra‑processed foods.

How does the high sugar and saturated‑fat content in Tim Tam affect a diabetic or heart‑healthy diet?

With 45.5 g of sugar per 100 g, Tim Tam can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making it unsuitable for diabetes management. Its 15 g of saturated fat per 100 g can raise LDL cholesterol, which is detrimental to heart‑healthy eating plans that limit saturated fat intake.

Is Tim Tam suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or dairy‑free diets?

No. Tim Tam contains whole milk powder and milk fat, so it is not vegan or dairy‑free, and fortified wheat flour provides gluten, making it unsuitable for gluten‑free diets.

Arnott’s • 163g

Tim Tam

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Tim Tam is a chocolate‑filled biscuit snack marketed by Arnott’s and sold in Tesco, belonging to the sugary‑snacks and biscuits‑and‑cakes groups. It carries a poor Nutri‑Score of E and is classified as ultra‑processed NOVA group 4, with high levels of sugar (45.5 g per 100 g), total fat (26.9 g) and saturated fat (15 g), though its salt content (0.33 g) is modest. The biscuit contains several additives such as colourants (E120, E150c, E162), emulsifiers (E322, E476), raising agents and sulphites, includes allergens like gluten, milk and soy, and uses palm oil, which raises sustainability concerns.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal525 kcal

Fat26.9 g

Saturated Fat15 g

Carbohydrates65.7 g

Sugars45.5 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with average snack biscuits, Tim Tam contains about 57 % more sugar (45.5 g vs 28.98 g), 53 % more total fat (26.9 g vs 17.65 g) and almost double the saturated fat (15 g vs 7.8 g), while its salt level (0.33 g) is lower than the typical 1.98 g.

Ingredients

Sugar, Fortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Palm Oil (Contains Soy), Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Partially Inverted Refiners Syrup, Colours (Ammonia Caramel, Beetroot Red, Cochineal), Vegetable Fats (Shea and/or Sal), Starch (Wheat), Milk Fat, Raising Agents (Ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Cocoa Powder (0.3%), Emulsifiers (Soy Lecithins, E476), Salt, Flavouring, Flour Treatment Agent (E223 (Sulphites)).

84%

35%

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