Instant Bouillon Cubes, Reduced Sodium Chicken

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Instant Bouillon Cubes, Reduced Sodium Chicken scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup Solids): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Natural Flavors (Monosodium Glutamate): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Inosinate And Guanylate): Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.

Within Seasonings & Spices, this product is more processed than about 92% of the 11,127 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 Instant Bouillon Cubes, Reduced Sodium Chicken'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.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Chicken Flavor (Salt, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Chicken Flavor [Chicken Powder, Chicken Stock, Chicken Paste], Dehydrated Onion, Maltodextrin [Corn, Potato], Sugar, Chicken Fat, Modified Cornstarch, Whey [Milk], Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And/Or Cottonseed Oil, Disodium Inosinate And Disodium Guanylate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Natural Flavors [Celery, Milk], Dehydrated Garlic, Extractives Of Turmeric [Color], Spice, Spice Extractives), Sugar, Flavor (Corn Maltodextrin, Flavoring).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Potassium Chloride.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Bicarbonate.

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Anti-Caking AgentsProcessing indicator

In this product: Silicon Dioxide.

Common in powdered processed foods.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Caramel Color (Contains Sulfites).

Natural sources but industrial application.