Free tool
Is itultra-processed?
Paste any ingredient list and this free checker flags the NOVA-4 markers: hidden sugars, lab sweeteners, emulsifiers, colours and preservatives, then estimates a purity score from 1 to 10. No sign-up, nothing leaves your browser.
Ingredients
What this checkercatches
Eight groups of ultra-processed markers, the same plain-English categories the Berry Pure app uses.
Added sugarsSugar listed under other names
SweetenersSugar-free sweeteners made in a lab
Gums and bindersKeep mixed ingredients from splitting
FlavouringsLab-made flavours that mimic the real thing
ColoursDyes that change the food's colour
PreservativesChemicals that make food last longer
Oils and fatsHeavily processed oils and fats
Other markersIndustrial ingredients you would not use at homeWhat counts as ultra-processed?
The NOVA system, used in most nutrition research, sorts food into four groups by how processed it is. Group 1 is whole food: an apple, plain oats, milk. Group 2 covers kitchen ingredients like oil and salt. Group 3 is processed food, things like cheese, canned vegetables or fresh bread, made by combining groups 1 and 2.
Group 4 is ultra-processed: industrial formulations built from refined substances and additives rather than recognisable food. The giveaway is the ingredient list. Emulsifiers, sweeteners, flavourings, colours, protein isolates and modified starches are things no home kitchen uses, and they mark a product as NOVA 4.
That is exactly what this checker looks for. It cannot taste the food, but the markers are reliable: in practice, a label with two or more industrial additives is almost always an ultra-processed product.
Frequently askedquestions
Everything you need to know about scanning your food with Berry Pure.
What is an ultra-processed food?
Under the NOVA classification used in nutrition research, ultra-processed foods (Group 4) are industrial formulations made with ingredients you would not use at home: emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, flavourings, colours, protein isolates and modified starches. Soft drinks, packaged snacks, instant noodles and most ready meals are typical examples.
How does this checker decide?
It scans your ingredient list for documented NOVA-4 markers across eight groups: added sugars, lab-made sweeteners, emulsifiers and gums, flavourings, colours, preservatives, refined oils, and other industrial ingredients like protein isolates. If it finds industrial markers, the food is likely ultra-processed, and each catch lowers the purity-style score.
How accurate is the score?
It is an honest estimate, not a lab result. The score is a simple weighted count of ultra-processed markers, designed to match how the Berry Pure app grades foods from 1 to 10. A food with no catches scores 10; every additive family found pulls it down.
Is ultra-processed food always bad for you?
An occasional ultra-processed food is not dangerous on its own. The research concern is diets where UPFs dominate: large studies associate high UPF intake with increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Knowing which foods in your kitchen are ultra-processed is the practical first step.
What's the difference between this and the Berry Pure app?
This free checker reads text you paste. The iOS app points your camera at the real label, reads it for you, tracks your whole kitchen zone by zone, suggests cleaner swaps and builds them into a shopping list. Think of this page as one scan; the app is the habit.
Does this checker store my ingredient lists?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you paste is sent to a server or stored anywhere.
Sources
The claims on this page are based on these publications.
- PHN (2019)Monteiro et al., Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them (the NOVA classification)
- BMJ (2024)Lane et al., Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review
- Cell Metab. (2019)Hall et al., Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain
- Nature (2015)Chassaing et al., Dietary emulsifiers impact the gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
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