Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza, Pepperoni

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza, Pepperoni scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Chemical Preservatives (Sodium Nitrite): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Guar Gum. Cheese: Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes). Sauce: Water, Hot Sauce (Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Granulated Garlic). Pepperoni: Pork): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Pizza, this product is more processed than about 24% of the 4,362 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza, Pepperoni's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Sugar, Dextrose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Lactic Acid Starter Culture.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.