G1
i
Unprocessed and minimally processed.
Whole foods and basic preparations. Fresh fruit and veg. Eggs. Milk. Plain meat or fish. Pulses. Wholegrain flour. Plain yoghurt. Coffee.
01
UPF scanner · NOVA-aware
The UK ultra-processed food scanner that uses NOVA.
Scan a UK barcode. We name the ultra-processed markers on the ingredient list (the emulsifiers, the modified starches, the isolated proteins), and weight the per-product grade against the published NOVA framework. So you can see where the pack sits.
Free download Pro £3.99/month or £34.99/year Cancel any time
02
What NOVA actually is
Four groups,
one classification.
NOVA is a peer-reviewed classification developed by Monteiro and colleagues at the University of São Paulo. It groups foods by how they were processed, not by their nutrients. UPF is Group 4. The FSA does not have a UPF category; NOVA is research, not UK food law.
G2
ii
Culinary ingredients.
Substances pressed, refined or ground from Group 1 foods. Butter. Olive oil. Sugar. Salt. Honey. Used to cook with, not eaten on their own.
G3
iii
Processed foods.
Group 1 foods with Group 2 added. Tinned beans in tomato sauce. Cheese. Salted nuts. Smoked or salted fish. Plain bread. Recognisable food, just preserved or cooked.
G4
iv
Ultra-processed foods.
Industrial formulations of substances extracted from foods, plus additives. Bottled fizzy drinks. Mass-produced bakery. Instant noodles. Reformulated meat products. Most breakfast cereals. The Group 4 markers are what we pick out.
03
UPF markers we pick out
The processing markers,
named.
The NOVA literature lists specific markers that flag a product as ultra-processed. Industrial emulsifiers. Modified starches. Isolated proteins. Hydrogenated fats. High-intensity sweeteners. When the scanner sees them on the ingredient list, it names them.
i
Industrial emulsifiers.
Mono- and diglycerides (E471), polysorbates (E433), DATEM (E472e). Common in mass-bakery bread, biscuits and ice cream. Not used in home cooking.
ii
Modified starches.
Modified maize starch, acetylated starch (E1422), hydroxypropyl starch (E1442). Thicken and bind in ready meals, sauces, instant desserts.
iii
Isolated proteins.
Soya protein isolate, pea protein isolate, hydrolysed wheat protein. Common in plant-based meat alternatives, protein bars and shakes.
iv
Hydrogenated or interesterified fats.
Industrial fat modifications used for shelf life and texture. Hardened vegetable oils in spreads, biscuits and bakery.
v
High-intensity sweeteners.
Aspartame (E951), sucralose (E955), acesulfame-K (E950). Diet drinks, sugar-free yoghurts, low-calorie desserts. WHO non-sugar sweeteners guidance from 2023 covers long-term use.
vi
Cosmetic colours and flavours.
Synthetic colours (the Southampton Six, plus E150d caramel and others) and "natural flavourings" formulated to mimic real ingredients.
04
A real UK pack, scored against NOVA
Scan a value loaf.
Here's what shows up.
A 50p sliced white off the bread aisle. Most people pick it up and move on. Here's what comes back the moment you scan it.
The markers, the panel, the processing grade.
The ingredients line is the one the manufacturer printed. We name every additive and tag the NOVA Group 4 markers. The bread sits in Group 4 because of the emulsifiers and processing aids, not the wheat.
i.
Point the camera at the loaf barcode.
The pack opens in the diary.
ii.
Every additive picked out.
E471, E472e, E282. Named in plain English.
iii.
Processing grade against NOVA.
Group 4. With the markers shown.
iv.
Processed-food drift over the week.
How much of your week is Group 4 vs Group 1.
05
Questions people ask
Frequently
asked.
What people ask before they install. Sourced to peer-reviewed UPF research, the FSA position and NHS advice.
What is ultra-processed food?
Ultra-processed foods are NOVA Group 4: industrial formulations made mostly from substances extracted from foods (oils, starches, isolated proteins) plus additives like emulsifiers, flavourings, colourings and sweeteners. NOVA was developed by Monteiro and colleagues at the University of São Paulo and is the most widely used UPF classification in peer-reviewed research.
Can I scan a barcode to check if a food is ultra-processed?
Yes. Open NutraSafe, point your phone at any UK barcode, and we surface the full ingredients line, every additive picked out, and our per-product grade. The grade factors in NOVA Group 4 markers (industrial emulsifiers, modified starches, isolated proteins, hydrogenated fats, high-intensity sweeteners, cosmetic colours and flavours).
What does the research say about UPF and health?
The 2024 BMJ umbrella review (Lane et al) found associations between higher ultra-processed food intake and 32 health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and earlier mortality. The strength varies by outcome. WHO and SACN have referenced UPF in dietary guidance but neither sets a UK regulatory threshold.
Is the UPF scanner free?
The download is free. The free tier covers barcode scanning, the per-product grade, the additive breakdown, the public E-number library and up to 25 food logs a day. NutraSafe Pro is £3.99 a month or £34.99 a year on iOS, which unlocks the AI features, the workouts, the fasting timer and the processed-food drift trend.
Is NOVA Group 4 a UK regulatory category?
No. NOVA is a research classification. The FSA does not have a UPF policy and regulates additives individually. The NHS references UPF in dietary advice. We use NOVA because it's the most widely used framework in published research, and we name the markers so you can see what counted.
Scan any UK pack.
We tell you which NOVA group it sits in.
And which markers got it there.
Get NutraSafe on the App Store
→
Free download covers barcode scanning and the per-product grade. Pro is £3.99 a month or £34.99 a year on iOS for the AI features, the workouts and the processed-food drift trend.
iPhone · iOS 17 · Cancel any timeNOVA 4