Vegetable Classics, Hearty Black Bean Flavored with Bacon

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Vegetable Classics, Hearty Black Bean Flavored with Bacon scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Celery. Contains Less Than 2% Of: Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Chemical Preservatives (Sherry Wine With Potassium Sorbate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Plant Proteins (Soy Protein (Hydrolyzed)): Isolated proteins require extensive industrial processing.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Smoke Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Soup & Chili, this product is more processed than about 64% of the 7,596 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 Vegetable Classics, Hearty Black Bean Flavored with Bacon'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: Bacon (Pork Cured With Water, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite), Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Potassium Chloride.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.