The brand database

Glebe Farm

UK · Cambridgeshire · Farm-to-Pack

The most traceable food brand in UK supermarkets. Every product grown, milled, and packed within 150 metres on a single farm in Cambridgeshire. Organic certified. Paper packaging throughout — no BPA, no plastic. Tests its own products to <5ppm for heavy metals, four times stricter than UK law. Single-ingredient products (NOVA 1). No synthetic pesticides (organic). Non-GMO. The only brand in the UK where the farm and the factory are the same building.

Gluten-free Only UK farm growing, milling, and packing GF oats entirely on-site. Tests to <5ppm — four times stricter than legal minimum. Organic certified. Unique full farm-to-pack traceability in 150 metres. Also makes oat flour, GF flour blends, and the only Crossed Grain certified oat milk (PureOaty).

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST HM UPF SC GMO

Doves Farm / Freee

UK · Hungerford · B Corp · Soil Association

B Corp certified and Soil Association organic — a rare combination. British-grown grains with paper packaging only, so no BPA or plastic ingress at any stage. Pesticide-free (organic). UK-grown means the supply chain is among the shortest possible for a packaged food brand. Publishes detailed sourcing. Non-GMO (organic). The gold standard for ethical British grain products.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST SC GMO BCORP

Booja-Booja

UK · Norfolk · B Corp · Soil Association

B Corp certified. Soil Association organic. Glass jars across the full range — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Organic cashews and cocoa mean no synthetic pesticide residues. Minimal processing (NOVA 2). Published supply chain sourcing. Fairtrade-aligned. Non-GMO. The most comprehensively ethical UK ice cream and chocolate brand — excels on every one of the 10 criteria.

Gluten-free B Corp certified. Soil Association organic. Dairy-free cashew-based ice cream and chocolates. No emulsifiers, gums, or artificial anything. Single-origin cashews. Norfolk made.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST UPF SC GMO BCORP

Yeo Valley Organic

UK · Somerset · B Corp · Soil Association

B Corp certified. Soil Association organic dairy from their own Somerset farm, with cows grass-fed for 90%+ of the year. Organic means pesticide-free feed, no synthetic hormones, no routine antibiotics. Plain yoghurt and butter are 1–2 ingredients (NOVA 1). Cardboard and glass packaging reduce plastic ingress. Animal welfare standards are published and audited independently.

Gluten-free B Corp certified. Soil Association organic. Family-owned Somerset farm. 90%+ grass-fed. Plain yoghurt has just two ingredients. Butter is pure organic cream. UK's best mainstream organic dairy brand.

ORG BPA PEST HM UPF SC GMO BCORP

Fish 4 Ever

UK · Independent · MSC Certified

BPA-free cans confirmed across the entire range — and a glass jar option is also available, giving the lowest possible plastic and BPA risk in tinned fish. Small, sustainably caught fish (sardines, mackerel) have the lowest mercury of any commonly eaten fish. MSC-certified and single-origin. Minimal processing (NOVA 2). Independent UK brand with genuine supply chain transparency.

Gluten-free Gold standard for UK tinned fish. Wild-caught, MSC certified, BPA-free cans and glass jars, single-origin transparency, organic options. Independently owned with full sustainability credentials.

BPA PLASTIC HM UPF SC GMO

Seed & Bean Chocolate

UK · Independent · Fairtrade · Soil Association

Soil Association organic cocoa and Fairtrade certification. The standout feature is home-compostable packaging — zero plastic ingress, no BPA risk at all. Organic farming means no synthetic pesticide residues in the cocoa. Single-origin supply chain published. No palm oil. The first UK chocolate brand to achieve home-compostable packaging at mainstream retail.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST UPF FT GMO

Alter Eco

Switzerland/USA · B Corp · Fairtrade

B Corp certified with compostable wrapper. Organic certified. Fairtrade PLUS a regenerative farming programme with Bolivian and Peruvian cooperatives — they publish farmer income data annually. Single-origin cocoa with lower cadmium risk than bulk commodity supply chains. One of the highest-scoring chocolate brands globally across all 10 criteria simultaneously.

Gluten-free B Corp certified. Organic. Fairtrade. Regenerative farming sourcing. Compostable packaging. One of the most comprehensively ethical chocolate brands globally.

ORG PLASTIC PEST HM UPF FT SC BCORP

Clipper Teas

UK · B Corp · Fairtrade · Organic

B Corp certified, Fairtrade, and Soil Association organic. The critical differentiator: plastic-free unbleached paper teabags — conventional teabags use a polypropylene heat-seal that releases billions of microplastic particles per cup when steeped in boiling water. Clipper eliminates this entirely. Organic tea also carries dramatically lower pesticide residues than conventional. The best mainstream everyday tea by every measure.

Gluten-free B Corp certified. Organic (Soil Association). Fairtrade. Plastic-free bags with unbleached paper. Pioneer in ethical UK tea sourcing. The gold standard for UK everyday tea.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST UPF FT BCORP

Hampstead Tea

UK · Demeter Biodynamic · Fairtrade

Demeter Biodynamic — the highest agricultural certification available, requiring a whole-farm approach to ecology that goes beyond standard organic. Fairtrade. Plastic-free paper bags. Biodynamic farming prohibits all synthetic inputs and certifies to a stricter standard than Soil Association. Named biodynamic estates. The lowest pesticide residue profile of any mainstream UK tea brand.

Gluten-free Demeter Biodynamic certified — the highest certification level for organic agriculture. Single-origin teas. Fairtrade. Plastic-free. The premium choice for tea safety.

ORG PLASTIC PEST HM UPF FT

Pukka Herbs

UK · Organic · FairWild

100% organic herbs across every product. FairWild certified — a specialist certification for sustainably harvested wild herbs that traces every plant to its source. Plant-based packaging with plastic-free bags. NOVA 1. Fairtrade. Non-GMO (100% organic). Note: now Unilever-owned, though certifications remain fully intact and independently audited.

Gluten-free 100% organic herbs. FairWild certified. Plant-based. Plastic-free packaging. All herbs certified organic. Now Unilever-owned but organic/ethical certifications remain intact.

ORG PLASTIC PEST UPF FT GMO

Grumpy Mule Coffee

UK · B Corp · Organic · Fairtrade

B Corp certified, organic, and Fairtrade — a combination almost unique in UK mainstream coffee. Direct-trade partnerships with named origin farms. Publishes its farmer relationships. Organic coffee has significantly lower cadmium residues than conventional (cadmium contamination from phosphate fertilisers is a genuine risk in non-organic coffee). Roasted in the UK. The best-scoring UK mainstream coffee brand across all criteria.

ORG PEST HM UPF FT SC BCORP

Citizens of Soil EVOO

UK · B Corp · Organic

B Corp certified. Organic single-estate olive oil sold in a refill pouch model, giving the lowest plastic-per-litre of any oil packaging format. Pesticide-free (organic). Named farm with published community impact. NOVA 1 — pure oil. The cleanest, most ethical mainstream olive oil available in UK supermarkets.

ORG PLASTIC PEST UPF SC BCORP

Zaytoun Olive Oil & Medjool Dates

Palestine · Fairtrade · Organic

Fairtrade International certified (the strongest standard — guaranteed minimum price plus community premium). Organic. Glass bottles — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Palestinian farmer cooperative with published income data. NOVA 1. Non-GMO. One of the strongest supply chain ethics scores available in any food category at UK supermarkets.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST UPF FT SC

Tony's Chocolonely

Netherlands · B Corp

B Corp certified. Directly sourced cocoa from named farms in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire with above-Fairtrade-minimum farmer contracts — and they publish the supply chain annually. The most transparent child-labour-free chocolate brand operating at mainstream scale anywhere. Simple recipe (NOVA 2). Weakness: not organically certified, so pesticide risk applies to the cocoa.

Gluten-free Mission-driven brand with directly sourced cocoa, above-market farmer payments, and documented slave-free supply chain. B Corp certified. Widely available in UK supermarkets.

ORG UPF FT SC BCORP

Ombar Chocolate

UK · Soil Association · Fairtrade

Soil Association organic. Fairtrade. Single-origin Ecuadorian cacao processed at lower temperatures to preserve nutrients. Organic supply chain means lower cadmium risk. NOVA 2. Published sourcing. Sweetened with coconut sugar. UK-founded brand.

ORG PEST HM UPF FT

Pip & Nut

UK · B Corp

B Corp certified. No palm oil at all. Glass jar range available — significantly lower plastic ingress than plastic tubs. Sustainably sourced nuts. Pure nut butters are NOVA 1 (one ingredient). Published sustainability report. Non-GMO. Weakness: not fully organic, so some pesticide residue risk applies.

Gluten-free B Corp certified. No palm oil, no nasties. Sustainably sourced nuts. Wider range including almond, cashew, mixed nut butters. UK-founded and widely available.

BPA PLASTIC UPF SC BCORP

Meridian Natural Peanut Butter

UK · Independent

100% peanuts — nothing else (no palm oil, no sugar, no salt, no emulsifiers in the natural range). Glass jars. Organic range available. NOVA 1 — one ingredient. One of the cleanest products in any category in UK supermarkets by ingredient integrity. The benchmark for what a nut butter should be.

ORG BPA PLASTIC UPF

HiPP Organic Baby Food

Germany · Family-Owned

The gold standard for UK baby food safety. Organic (Demeter biodynamic range available). Glass jars eliminate plastic ingress entirely — uniquely important for infants. Publishes its own heavy metal testing results above the legal minimum. The only mainstream baby food brand that makes its per-product safety data openly available. Non-GMO. Family-owned.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST HM UPF SC

Organix Baby Food

UK · Soil Association

Soil Association certified. No artificial additives in any product. BPA-free pouches. No rice-based cereals in the core range, which reduces arsenic exposure significantly for infants. NOVA 2. Non-GMO. UK-founded brand with good sourcing transparency. Better than Heinz baby food on every single criterion.

ORG BPA PEST HM UPF

Form Nutrition

UK · B Corp

The only B Corp certified sports nutrition brand in the UK. Organic protein. The key differentiator: Form publishes independent third-party heavy metal testing results — important because Consumer Reports found most protein powders contain lead above safe daily exposure levels. Form is the rare exception that has been independently tested and cleared. Non-GMO.

Gluten-free B Corp certified UK sports nutrition. Certified organic protein powders. Third-party heavy metal testing. Minimal additives, natural flavours. The gold standard in UK clean sports nutrition.

ORG PEST HM UPF SC BCORP

Better Nature Tempeh

UK · B Corp

B Corp certified. Traditional fermentation of whole soybeans — the product is essentially NOVA 1, a single whole food preserved naturally by fermentation. No additives, no preservatives, no emulsifiers. Non-GMO verified. Very low heavy metal risk. The cleanest plant protein in UK supermarkets by processing standard.

Gluten-free B Corp certified. Traditional tempeh fermentation — whole soybeans, minimal processing, live cultures. Gut-friendly, complete protein. No artificial additives. The cleanest mainstream plant protein in UK supermarkets.

UPF GMO BCORP

The Tofoo Co.

UK · Yorkshire · Soil Association

Soil Association organic soybeans grown in the UK, within 50 miles of their Yorkshire mill. Three ingredients: water, organic UK soybeans, nigari (natural seawater coagulant). NOVA 1. Non-GMO. Low heavy metal risk. The most traceable and cleanest commercial tofu in UK supermarkets.

Gluten-free UK-made tofu, Soil Association organic. Just three ingredients: water, organic UK soybeans, nigari coagulant. Not UPF. Made in Yorkshire from UK-grown soybeans. Genuinely whole food.

ORG PEST HM UPF SC

Hodmedod's

UK · Suffolk

British-grown beans, peas, and lentils with farm-level traceability unmatched in the pulses category. BPA-free can lining confirmed. UK-farmed means very low cadmium risk (UK soil is cleaner than many global alternatives). Organic range available. NOVA 1 (plain tinned pulses). Named farm sourcing — you can trace every can back to the field it came from.

Gluten-free British-grown beans, peas, and lentils. Farm-level traceability. No added sugar range. BPA-free can lining. Supports British agriculture. No other UK brand offers comparable provenance for pulses.

ORG BPA PEST HM UPF SC

Biona Organic

UK · Windmill Organic · Soil Association

Soil Association organic across the entire range. BPA-free can linings confirmed. Glass jar range available. Pesticide-free (organic). Wide range covering beans, tomatoes, pasta, oil, and condiments — one of the most versatile organic pantry brands in UK mainstream supermarkets. Non-GMO.

Gluten-free Soil Association certified organic across wide range. BPA-free can linings. Glass jar range. No added sugar/salt options. Wide variety — beans, tomatoes, olive oil, pasta, spreads. Widely available.

ORG BPA PLASTIC PEST UPF

Mutti Tinned Tomatoes

Italy · Family-Owned

BPA-free cans since 2019 — critically important because tomatoes are highly acidic, and acid accelerates BPA leaching from standard can linings faster than almost any other tinned food. Glass passata range also available. Full Italian farm traceability. NOVA 1. Family-owned since 1899. This is the brand that should replace standard tinned tomatoes in every kitchen.

Gluten-free Italian-grown tomatoes. BPA-free cans since 2019. Glass range. 100% traceable supply chain. Superior taste and safety credentials — especially important as tomatoes are acidic (accelerates BPA leaching in standard cans).

BPA PLASTIC UPF SC

Wilkin & Sons (Tiptree)

UK · Essex · Family Farm since 1885

Family farm growing their own fruit in Essex since 1885. Glass jars throughout — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Very high fruit content (some preserves 65%+ fruit). Short, recognisable ingredient list (NOVA 2). Farm-to-jar provenance. Weakness: non-organic farming, so some pesticide residue risk on the fruit.

Gluten-free British family farm growing its own fruit. Highest fruit content of any major UK jam brand (some 65%+). No artificial anything. Great Taste Awards institution. Unrivalled provenance for British preserves.

BPA PLASTIC HM UPF SC

Stokes Real Tomato Ketchup

UK · Suffolk · Artisan

Made in small batches in Suffolk. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives. Glass bottle option — lower BPA and plastic risk than standard plastic squeeze bottles. Short, recognisable ingredient list (NOVA 2). Independent. Multiple Great Taste Awards. The cleanest mainstream ketchup in the UK — a genuine upgrade from Heinz with virtually identical pricing.

Gluten-free Handmade in Suffolk, small batch. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives. Full tomato content, natural recipe. Multiple Great Taste Awards. UK's finest mainstream ketchup.

BPA UPF SC

Sauce Shop

UK · Nottingham · Independent

Natural ingredients only. Chilli fermentation. No artificial additives, preservatives, or colours across the full range. Glass bottles throughout — minimal BPA and plastic risk. NOVA 2. British-sourced ingredients, Nottingham production. Independent brand. Better than any major condiment brand on UPF and transparency criteria.

Gluten-free Founded 2014 in Nottingham. Natural ingredients only, chilli fermentation, no artificial additives or preservatives. British-sourced ingredients. 30+ products all to the same high standard.

BPA UPF SC

Kallo Organic Stock Cubes

UK · Organic

Organic certified. Paper and card packaging — no BPA, no plastic ingress. Simple, recognisable ingredient list without artificial flavour enhancers. NOVA 2. Recyclable packaging. Non-GMO. Available at all major UK supermarkets. A clear upgrade from Knorr on every single criterion.

Gluten-free Crossed Grain certified. Certified organic. Low salt range. Gluten-free, vegan options. Recyclable packaging. UK's best organic GF stock brand.

ORG BPA PEST UPF

Borderfields / Farrington's Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil

UK · Cold-Pressed

British cold-pressed rapeseed oil — grown and pressed in the UK. Glass bottles available. NOVA 1 — single ingredient. Full UK farm provenance. Non-GMO (UK rapeseed is not commercially GM-grown). UK growing conditions mean lower pesticide residue risk than many imported oils. High in omega-3 and vitamin E. Weakness: not organically certified.

BPA UPF SC

Belvoir Fruit Farms

UK · Leicestershire · Family Farm

Glass bottles throughout — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. UK family farm growing its own elderflower. No artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or colours. Real fruit (NOVA 2). The safest mainstream soft drink from a BPA and plastic ingress standpoint. Weakness: non-organic, so some pesticide residue risk on the fruit.

Gluten-free UK family farm cordials and pressés. All natural, no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Real fruit and elderflower from their own farm. Glass bottles. Seasonal, traceable.

BPA PLASTIC UPF SC

Fever-Tree

UK · Glass Bottles

Glass bottles — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress from packaging. Natural quinine (from Congo bark) and real botanical extracts. No artificial sweeteners or colours. Published botanical sourcing. NOVA 2. The cleanest mixer brand on BPA and plastic criteria by a significant margin.

Gluten-free Natural quinine, real botanical extracts. No artificial sweeteners. Glass bottles. The clear gold standard for mixers. Naturally Light range uses stevia.

BPA PLASTIC UPF SC

Westcombe / Montgomery's / Keen's Cheddar

UK · Somerset · Single Farm

Traditional farmhouse Cheddars made on a single named farm with milk from one named herd. Four ingredients: milk, starter, rennet, salt. Minimal packaging. NOVA 1 effectively. Single-farm traceability is unmatched. Westcombe holds a Slow Food Presidium. The cleanest mainstream UK cheese by ingredient and supply chain standards simultaneously.

Gluten-free True artisan farmhouse Cheddars made on a single farm with milk from one herd. Slow maturation. Natural rind. Slow Food Presidium (Westcombe). The pinnacle of British cheese making.

UPF HM SC

Godminster Organic Cheddar

UK · Somerset · Soil Association

Soil Association organic. Biodynamic farming on a named Somerset estate. Pesticide-free dairy. Low heavy metals. NOVA 1. Named estate traceability. Non-GMO. The best-credentialled organic Cheddar in UK mainstream retail.

Gluten-free Soil Association organic. Biodynamic Somerset estate. Genuinely premium organic Cheddar with full provenance. Dedicated to organic farming principles.

ORG PEST UPF SC

Kerrygold Butter

Ireland · Ornua · Grass-Fed

Irish grass-fed dairy — cows graze for 10+ months per year. Higher omega-3 and CLA content than grain-supplemented dairy. Paper and foil wrapping — very low BPA/plastic risk. Grass-fed means lower synthetic pesticide residues in the milk compared to grain-fed systems. NOVA 1 — cream only. Irish cooperative model. Verified grass-fed credentials.

Gluten-free Irish grass-fed butter — cows graze 10+ months per year. Higher beta-carotene, CLA and omega-3 than standard butter. Clean label: cream. Grass-fed credentials verified and genuine.

BPA PEST HM UPF SC

Tracklements

UK · Wiltshire · Independent

Traditional British condiment maker in Wiltshire. Glass jars — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives anywhere in the range. UK-sourced ingredients where possible. NOVA 2. Independent. Multiple Great Taste Awards. The benchmark for British condiments on safety criteria.

Gluten-free Traditional British condiment maker. Award-winning mustards, relishes, chutneys. Natural ingredients, no artificial additives, British-sourced. Exceptional quality throughout the range.

BPA PLASTIC UPF SC

St Dalfour Jams

France · No Added Sugar

Glass jars — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Sweetened exclusively with grape juice concentrate rather than refined sugar. Very high fruit content. No artificial preservatives or colours. NOVA 2. Non-GMO. Better than almost every other jam in UK supermarkets on BPA, plastic, and UPF criteria simultaneously.

BPA PLASTIC UPF

Union Hand-Roasted Coffee

UK · London · Direct Trade

Direct trade paying above Fairtrade minimums. Publishes the origin farm on every bag — genuinely traceable to source. The most transparent mainstream UK coffee roaster. NOVA 1. Named farmer relationships instead of certification (stronger supply chain accountability). Weakness: some origins not organic.

Gluten-free London's premier ethical coffee roaster. Direct trade paying above Fairtrade minimums. Traceable origin for every coffee. Exceptional transparency without needing certification as a crutch.

FT SC UPF

Geeta's Premium Foods

UK · Indian Sauces · Independent

Glass jars across the main range — low BPA and plastic risk. No artificial additives, flavours, or preservatives. Authentic spice-forward recipes (NOVA 2). UK-based brand. Great Taste Awards. Non-GMO. The best Indian cooking sauce brand on UPF and packaging safety criteria.

Gluten-free UK-based Indian sauce brand. No artificial additives, high spice content, recognisable ingredients. Multiple Great Taste Award winner. Premium quality Indian cooking sauces made in the UK.

BPA UPF

Biotiful Kefir (organic range)

UK · Traditional Fermentation

Organic range available. Traditional kefir fermented with 40+ live cultures. Plain kefir is NOVA 1 — just milk and kefir cultures. Fermentation is a NOVA 1 process (naturally preserved without any additives). Non-GMO (organic range). Strong probiotic diversity. Better gut health profile than Activia on every measurable criterion.

ORG UPF

FAGE Total Greek Yoghurt

Greece · Authentic Strained

Two ingredients: milk and live yoghurt cultures. No thickeners, no gelatine, no modified starch, no HPMC — nothing. Naturally strained. NOVA 1. High protein. Low heavy metals. Non-GMO. The international benchmark for what a yoghurt ingredient list should look like.

Gluten-free Two ingredients: milk, live yoghurt cultures. No thickeners, no gelatine, no modified starch. Naturally strained — not chemically thickened. High protein (10g/100g). The benchmark plain yoghurt.

UPF HM GMO

Bonne Maman Jams

France · Andros

Glass jars — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. High fruit content. Natural ingredients — no artificial preservatives or colours. NOVA 2. Non-GMO. Consistently better than supermarket own-brand jams on every criterion. Weakness: non-organic fruit.

BPA PLASTIC UPF

Forthglade Pet Food

UK · Devon · B Corp

B Corp certified. Named meat proteins throughout — never 'meat derivatives.' Whole vegetables. No artificial additives, colours, or preservatives. BPA-free packaging. Low heavy metals (quality fresh meat, not rendered mystery material). Devon-sourced ingredients. Non-GMO. The best-performing UK pet food brand across all criteria.

BPA UPF SC BCORP

Scrumbles Pet Food

UK · B Corp

B Corp certified. Natural ingredients, no artificial additives. Gut-friendly probiotics (natural). Good supply chain transparency. BPA-free packaging. Non-GMO. Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado.

BPA UPF BCORP

Clearspring Organic Tamari

UK · Organic · Glass Bottle

Organic certified. Glass bottle — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Three ingredients: organic soybeans, water, sea salt. Traditionally brewed. NOVA 1. Non-GMO (organic). The absolute benchmark for a soy sauce — pure, fermented, organic, glass-bottled.

Gluten-free Traditional Japanese tamari made without wheat. Organic certified. Crossed Grain symbol. Authentic brewing process. The essential soy sauce substitute for coeliacs and GF shoppers.

ORG BPA PLASTIC UPF GMO

Marigold Swiss Vegetable Bouillon

UK · Organic Range

Organic range available. Paper/foil packaging — minimal plastic ingress. No artificial flavours, no MSG. Vegan. NOVA 2. UK brand. Non-GMO. A clear upgrade from Knorr on ingredient quality and ethics.

Gluten-free Simple natural ingredients, vegan, dairy-free options. "Reduced salt" and "organic" ranges excellent. GF range available. A genuinely clean stock alternative for GF and non-GF shoppers alike.

ORG BPA UPF

Ortiz Tinned Fish

Spain · Premium · Hand-Filleted

BPA-free tins or glass options available. Wild-caught Cantabrian anchovies and yellowfin tuna. Hand-filleted. Small fish (anchovies) have the lowest mercury of any common canned fish. NOVA 2. Traditional artisan Spanish canning with named fisheries.

Gluten-free Premium Spanish tinned fish. Wild-caught Cantabrian anchovies and yellowfin tuna. Most lines BPA-free tins or glass. Hand-filleted. Very high quality and safety credentials.

BPA HM UPF SC

Belazu EVOO

UK · Single Origin Mediterranean

Glass bottles — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Single-origin named estates. NOVA 1. Transparent origin sourcing. Non-GMO. Dramatically better than Bertolli and Filippo Berio on supply chain traceability and plastic packaging.

BPA PLASTIC UPF SC

Nim's Air-Dried Fruit Crisps

UK · Single Ingredient

Genuinely single-ingredient: 100% air-dried British fruit and vegetables. No oil, no salt, no additives, nothing added at any stage. NOVA 1. British-grown produce. The cleanest snack product in any UK supermarket by UPF criteria. Weakness: non-organic, so some pesticide residue risk.

UPF SC

Piccolo Baby Food

UK · Soil Association

Soil Association organic. BPA-free pouches. No rice-based cereals in the core range — important because rice-based infant cereals have significant arsenic concerns. Published origins. NOVA 2. Non-GMO. The cleanest mainstream baby food on heavy metal risk alongside HiPP.

ORG BPA PEST HM

Tyrrells Crisps

UK · Herefordshire

Real Herefordshire potato slices — not engineered potato dough. Natural ingredients: potatoes, sunflower oil, sea salt. No MSG, no artificial flavours or colours. British-grown. NOVA 2. Weakness: non-organic potatoes carry pesticide residue risk (potatoes are on the PAN UK dirty dozen list).

PEST UPF SC

Flahavan's Organic Porridge Oats

Ireland · Family Farm since 1785

Organic certified. Single-origin Irish family farm since 1785. 100% recyclable paper bag — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Pesticide-free (organic). NOVA 1 — single ingredient. Own Irish farm, full traceability. Non-GMO. The gold standard for everyday porridge oats (note: not purity-protocol GF-certified; this ranking is based purely on the 10 safety criteria).

ORG BPA PEST UPF SC

Duchy Organic Range (Waitrose)

UK · Organic · Waitrose

Organic certified. Traditional UK recipes. Covers biscuits, olive oil, flour, preserves, meat, and dairy. Pesticide-free (organic). NOVA 1–2 across most products. UK organic farms. Non-GMO. Waitrose is joint-first in PAN UK pesticide supermarket rankings — adding an extra layer of assurance.

ORG PEST UPF

Lizi's Organic Granola

UK · Low GI · Organic

Organic certified. Low GI certified. No artificial additives, no palm oil, natural sweeteners. Pesticide-free (organic). NOVA 2. UK brand. Non-GMO. Strong on organic and UPF criteria for the granola category.

ORG PEST UPF

Border Biscuits

Scotland · Independent

Scottish family baker. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives throughout the range. Traditional recipes. NOVA 2. Multiple Great Taste Awards. The best mainstream UK biscuit brand on UPF criteria for a non-organic choice.

Gluten-free Scottish family baker. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives. Traditional recipes. Multiple Great Taste Awards. Good quality mainstream biscuits without the palm oil of bigger brands.

UPF SC

Divine Chocolate

UK · Fairtrade · Farmer Co-op

44% owned by the Kuapa Kokoo farmer cooperative in Ghana — a model unique in mainstream chocolate retail. Fairtrade International certified. Non-organic (weakness on pesticides). NOVA 2. Farmer co-op ownership means the supply chain ethics score is exceptional, even without B Corp.

FT SC UPF

Yorkshire Tea

UK · Bettys & Taylors · Independent

Plastic-free bags since 2020 — a significant improvement. Rainforest Alliance certified. FSC cardboard. Independent family company. Weakness: non-organic tea is a meaningful concern — tea is one of the most heavily sprayed agricultural crops, and Rainforest Alliance is a weaker standard than organic or Fairtrade. Acceptable for daily use; Clipper or Hampstead Tea are demonstrably safer.

Gluten-free Plastic-free bags since 2020. Rainforest Alliance certified. Direct-trade with some farms. Good quality independent company. Second-best UK everyday tea after Clipper.

PLASTIC PEST UPF FT

Taylors of Harrogate Coffee

UK · Family Company

Rainforest Alliance certified. UK-roasted. Independent family company (Bettys & Taylors). Non-organic (weakness). Non-organic coffee carries meaningful cadmium risk from phosphate fertilisers. NOVA 1. Good quality mainstream coffee — Grumpy Mule is better on all criteria.

Gluten-free Rainforest Alliance certified. Good quality, UK roasted. Family-owned business. Competitive on ethics and quality for a mainstream brand.

PEST UPF FT

Nescafé Gold / Kenco

Nestlé / JDE · Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance certified on most lines. NOVA 1 (pure coffee). Non-organic cadmium concern from South American origins. Corporate ownership limits supply chain depth. Acceptable as a convenient daily option — Taylors or Union are better on all criteria.

Gluten-free Rainforest Alliance certified on most products. Adequate quality for instant. Corporate concerns (Nestlé, JDE). Acceptable as a convenient daily option but doesn't match independent roasters.

PEST UPF FT SC

Lurpak Butter

Denmark · Arla Co-op

Clean label: cream and salt only. Danish dairy farmer co-operative. Paper and foil wrapping — very low BPA and plastic risk. NOVA 1. Non-organic (weakness). Co-operative model with Arlagrden quality assurance. Non-GMO effectively.

BPA UPF SC

Marmite

UK · Unilever · Burton-on-Trent

Clean label: yeast extract, salt, vegetable and spice extracts, B vitamins. Nutritionally excellent — genuinely high in B12. Glass jar — zero BPA, zero plastic ingress. Very low pesticide and heavy metal risk (yeast, not an agricultural crop). NOVA 2. Still made in Burton-on-Trent. Unilever ownership is the only meaningful concern.

Gluten-free Surprisingly clean label: yeast extract, salt, vegetable extract, spice extracts, vitamins. High in B12 (rare in plant foods). Vegan. Still made in Burton-on-Trent. High sodium — use sparingly.

BPA PLASTIC HM UPF SC

Heinz Tomato Ketchup

UK · Kraft Heinz

UK uses cane sugar (not HFCS). Simple, recognisable ingredients. NOVA 2. Weakness: plastic squeeze bottle has low microplastic migration risk; glass bottle preferred. Metal caps on glass bottles may contain BPA seal. Kraft Heinz corporate limits supply chain transparency. Choose the glass bottle version to reduce packaging risk.

BPA PLASTIC UPF

Hellmann's Real Mayo (free-range)

UK · Unilever

Free-range egg version: rapeseed oil, free-range eggs, vinegar, salt. NOVA 2 — four recognisable ingredients. Plastic bottle has low microplastic risk. Non-organic rapeseed (pesticide concern). Choose glass pot variants where available.

PLASTIC UPF

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce

UK · Kraft Heinz

Traditional fermented recipe — anchovies, vinegar, molasses, tamarind. Clean label for a condiment. Glass bottle — low BPA risk. NOVA 2. Kraft Heinz is the main concern. Original 1837 recipe.

Gluten-free The original, still made in Worcester. Simple fermented recipe. Very clean ingredient list. UK version confirmed gluten-free. A genuine UK pantry classic with honest ingredients.

BPA UPF

John West (MSC-labelled lines only)

UK · Thai Union

MSC certified pole-and-line tuna on the certified lines. Pole-caught means smaller, younger fish with lower mercury. BPA can lining status not confirmed — this is the main downgrade versus Fish 4 Ever. Thai Union has historical labour concerns, though MSC certification covers sustainability. Only buy MSC-labelled lines.

BPA HM SC

Cathedral City / Pilgrim's Choice

UK · Saputo

Clean ingredient list — milk, salt, starter, rennet. No additives. NOVA 1. Non-organic dairy (weakness). Low heavy metals in aged cheese. Saputo corporate limits supply chain depth. Acceptable everyday Cheddar — not artisan, but genuinely clean by ingredient standards.

Gluten-free Clean ingredient list — milk, salt, starter, rennet only. No additives. Acceptable everyday Cheddar without artisan premium. Saputo corporate ownership is main concern.

UPF HM

Rachel's Organic Yoghurt

UK · Lactalis · Soil Association

Soil Association organic certification maintained despite Lactalis ownership. Pesticide-free (organic). NOVA 1–2. Non-GMO. Acceptable organic yoghurt — Yeo Valley is better on B Corp and supply chain criteria, but Rachel's organic credentials are real.

Gluten-free Soil Association organic. Welsh brand with organic credentials maintained despite Lactalis ownership. Good quality organic yoghurt widely available in UK supermarkets.

ORG PEST UPF

Sacla' Italian Sauces

Italy · Premium

Premium Italian sauces in glass jars — low BPA and plastic risk. No artificial additives. Classic Basil Pesto contains no palm oil. Non-organic (weakness). NOVA 2. Italian provenance. Better than Dolmio and Ragu on every single criterion.

BPA UPF

Innocent Drinks

UK · B Corp · (Coca-Cola investor)

B Corp certified. 100% juice, no additives. Weakness: plastic bottles carry microplastic ingress concern, especially if stored warm. Non-organic fruit means pesticide residue risk. NOVA 2 (juice — natural but processed). Coca-Cola is a major investor though B Corp certification is maintained. Treat as an occasional drink rather than a daily staple.

PLASTIC PEST UPF BCORP

Ritter Sport Chocolate

Germany · Alfred Ritter GmbH · Family

Family-owned. Owns its own cocoa plantation in Nicaragua — an unusually high degree of supply chain control for a mass-market chocolate brand. Rainforest Alliance certified. No palm oil. Non-organic (weakness). Own plantation means lower cadmium variability. Better than all Big Five chocolate companies on supply chain criterion.

SC FT UPF

Häagen-Dazs (plain flavours only)

USA · General Mills

Plain range only: cream, milk, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla. Genuinely clean for mass-market ice cream — NOVA 2. Non-organic dairy (weakness). Low heavy metals. This rating does not apply to the Crispy or Extras ranges which contain numerous emulsifiers and additives.

Gluten-free The minimalist 5-ingredient range (cream, skim milk, sugar, egg yolks, vanilla) is genuinely clean. Only safe when choosing plain flavours — the Extras/additions range adds problematic additives.

UPF

Jude's Ice Cream

UK · Hampshire · Natural

Natural ingredients, no artificial colours or flavours. UK-made in Hampshire. Published responsible sourcing. Non-organic dairy (weakness). NOVA 2. Better than Wall's/Unilever on every criterion.

Gluten-free UK artisan ice cream. Natural ingredients, responsible sourcing, no artificial colours or flavours. Hampshire-made. Good quality ingredients at a reasonable premium over corporate alternatives.

UPF SC

Whole Earth (Organic Range)

UK · Ecotone

Organic range: just organic peanuts and minimal sea salt. Ecotone parent is B Corp. No palm oil. Glass jar available. NOVA 1. Non-GMO (organic). Better than Sun-Pat in every respect for the organic range.

ORG UPF BCORP

Nairn's (standard oatcakes)

Scotland · Traditional

Traditional Scottish oatcakes with minimal ingredients: oats, sunflower oil, sea salt. Non-organic (weakness). Paper packaging. NOVA 1–2. Scottish oats. Note: crackers in the range contain palm oil — a supply chain ethics concern. Standard oatcakes are clean; crackers are less so.

BPA UPF SC

Patak's (paste range only)

UK · ABF

Authentic spice pastes in glass jars — low BPA and plastic risk. Non-organic (weakness). NOVA 2 for the paste range. ABF corporate. The paste range is notably cleaner than the jar cooking sauce range (which adds modified starch) — this rating applies to pastes only.

BPA UPF

HP Sauce

UK · Kraft Heinz

Traditional fermented recipe: fruit, vinegar, molasses, tamarind. Clean label for a mass-market condiment. Glass bottle. NOVA 2. Kraft Heinz corporate is the main concern. Original 1869 recipe.

Gluten-free Classic British brown sauce. Vinegar, molasses, tamarind, fruits — a genuinely traditional recipe. Clean label for a mass-market product. Kraft Heinz ownership is the concern.

BPA UPF

New Covent Garden Soup

UK · Chilled

Chilled format eliminates BPA can risk entirely. Fresh ingredients, no artificial additives. NOVA 2. Plastic tub — food-grade, low risk. Non-organic (weakness). Significantly better than tinned soup on BPA criteria alone.

BPA UPF

Baxters (Organic Soups range)

Scotland · Family-Owned

Organic range: Soil Association certified. Scottish family business since 1868. NOVA 2 — simple recognisable ingredients. Highland range uses Scottish ingredients. Non-organic range drops to yellow tier. BPA status on cans unclear.

ORG BPA UPF

Sainsbury's Own-Brand Tuna

Sainsbury's · Pole-and-Line

Ranked #1 by Greenpeace UK for sustainable tuna — all tuna pole-and-line caught. Pole-caught means younger, smaller fish with lower mercury. BPA status of own-brand cans not confirmed (weakness). Sainsbury's 4th in PAN UK pesticide rankings. Good value sustainable choice.

BPA HM SC

Ella's Kitchen Baby Food

UK · Hain Celestial · Organic

Soil Association certified. BPA-free pouches. Organic. Weakness: no published per-batch heavy metal testing data — a meaningful gap for a baby food brand. HiPP and Piccolo publish more detailed safety data. Hain Celestial corporate. Non-GMO. Non-rice Ella's products qualify here; rice-heavy lines see the note below in Tier 3.

ORG BPA PEST HM

Quorn (plain mince/pieces — frozen)

UK · Monde Nissin

Complete mycoprotein — high in fibre and protein. Removed artificial ingredients from frozen range 2024. UK-produced. Low heavy metal risk. NOVA 2 for plain variants. Weakness: not organic. This rating applies to plain frozen products only — all flavoured and seasoned Quorn variants are NOVA 4 and fall to amber tier.

UPF HM

Neat Nutrition

UK · Clean Sports Nutrition

Clean-label sports nutrition with minimal additives and no artificial sweeteners. UK-founded. Non-organic (weakness). Heavy metals not independently published (a weakness vs Form). NOVA 2. Better than the major mass-market sports brands on UPF criteria.

UPF HM

Lily's Kitchen (organic range)

UK · Nestlé-Owned

Organic range: Soil Association certified. Named meat proteins. Whole vegetables. No artificial additives. Vet-approved. BPA-free packaging. Low heavy metals. Non-GMO (organic). Certifications intact despite Nestlé acquisition.

ORG UPF

Alpro (non-soy milks — almond, coconut, oat)

Belgium · Danone

Non-soy varieties confirmed safe from GMO concern. FSC certified cartons — low plastic ingress. Non-organic (weakness). Fortification adds synthetic vitamins (minor UPF concern). Soy varieties carry non-organic GMO risk — avoid those. Danone corporate. Acceptable everyday plant milk for non-soy variants.

BPA PEST UPF GMO

Rowse Honey (single-origin range only)

UK · Single-Origin Lines

Single-origin range: glass jars, traceable by country. NOVA 1. Non-organic (weakness — honey may carry residues from surrounding agriculture). Low heavy metals. This rating applies only to the named single-origin glass jar range — the blended 'EU and non-EU' range drops to amber tier.

BPA UPF SC

Arla LactoFREE Organic Milk

UK · Arla

Organic range: Soil Association certified. Two ingredients: organic milk + lactase enzyme. FSC carton. Organic feed — pesticide-free. NOVA 1. Note: the 2024 Bovaer methane supplement controversy does not apply to the organic range. Acceptable for lactose-intolerant shoppers wanting clean dairy.

ORG BPA PEST UPF

Green & Black's (organic range)

UK · Mondelez-Owned

Soil Association organic certification is genuine and maintained post-Mondelez acquisition. Organic cocoa with lower cadmium risk. NOVA 2. The organic product is real — it is Mondelez's corporate ethics record in their non-organic supply chains that is the concern. Buy for the organic product; be aware of the parent company.

ORG PEST HM SC

Colman's Mustard

UK · Unilever · Norwich

Glass jars for prepared mustard — zero plastic ingress. Simple ingredients. Traditional Norfolk recipe. Non-organic (weakness). Very low heavy metals. NOVA 2. Unilever is the main concern. Good on BPA and UPF criteria for an everyday condiment.

BPA UPF

Shredded Wheat

UK · Nestlé

One ingredient: whole wheat. 0.7g sugar per 100g. No salt, no additives whatsoever. NOVA 1 — among the simplest mainstream cereals in any supermarket. Cardboard packaging. Non-organic wheat carries glyphosate pre-harvest risk (meaningful weakness). Nestlé ownership is a supply chain ethics concern. The product is exceptional; the company is not.

UPF PEST SC

Dorset Cereals (Muesli & Granola)

UK · Independent

UK brand. Genuine whole grain muesli and granola with natural ingredients. No palm oil, no artificial additives. Cardboard packaging. Non-organic (weakness). NOVA 2. Independent company. Better than Kellogg's granola on every safety criterion.

UPF SC

Burts Crisps

UK · Devon

Devon-made crisps from real potatoes. No artificial colours or flavourings. British potatoes. NOVA 2. UK-made. Non-organic (weakness).

UPF SC

This ('THIS Isn't...' plant-based)

UK · Independent

UK-founded and progressively removing artificial ingredients from recipes. More transparent than most plant-based brands. Non-organic. NOVA 3 typically — processing is required for this category. Better than Beyond Meat on UPF and supply chain transparency. Direction of travel is clearly positive.

UPF SC

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

USA · Glanbia

Well-studied, long track record. No published heavy metal testing (Consumer Reports found elevated lead in the protein powder category — Optimum not specifically cleared). Some artificial sweeteners. NOVA 3. Acceptable for regular use but Form Nutrition is measurably safer on the heavy metals criterion. Choose unflavoured to reduce sweetener load.

Gluten-free Well-studied protein powder with a long track record. However no organic certification, uses artificial sweeteners (sucralose), and published testing shows some heavy metal content. Acceptable for regular use but not recommended as primary daily protein source.

HM UPF

Loyd Grossman Pasta Sauces

UK · Premier Foods

Better than Dolmio and Ragu — shorter ingredient list, glass jars. Modified corn starch and citric acid present but ingredient count is lower. NOVA 3. Premier Foods corporate. Acceptable occasionally — Sacla' and Geeta's are clearly better at similar prices.

Gluten-free Better than Dolmio/Ragu but still contains modified corn starch, citric acid, and stabilisers. Acceptable occasionally. Premier Foods corporate with limited sustainability transparency.

BPA UPF

Duchy Organic Biscuits

UK · Organic · Waitrose

Organic certified. No artificial anything. Traditional UK biscuit recipes. NOVA 2. Non-GMO. Available exclusively at Waitrose. Best quality organic biscuit at mainstream supermarket pricing.

ORG UPF

Heinz Baked Beans (No Added Sugar)

UK · Kraft Heinz

No Added Sugar variant: just beans, tomatoes, salt. NOVA 2 for this specific variant. Standard BPA-lined can — the main concern. Kraft Heinz corporate. Hodmedod's is better on every criterion, but this is an acceptable affordable pantry staple when using the no-sugar variant.

BPA UPF

PG Tips

UK · Unilever

Removed polypropylene from bags in 2018. Rainforest Alliance certified. Non-organic (weakness). Unilever ownership limits supply chain depth. NOVA 1. Acceptable for daily use — Clipper and Yorkshire Tea are better on plastic and pesticide criteria respectively.

PLASTIC PEST UPF

Tetley Tea

UK · Tata Global

Rainforest Alliance certified. Tata corporate. Check specific packs — some Tetley lines still use polypropylene seal in their bag construction. Non-organic (weakness). NOVA 1. Acceptable but not at the standard of Clipper or Yorkshire Tea on plastic criterion.

PLASTIC PEST UPF

Biotiful Kefir (standard range)

UK · Standard Range

Traditional kefir fermentation with 40+ live cultures. Plain kefir is NOVA 1. Non-organic standard range (weakness vs organic range). Strong probiotic profile. Better than Activia on every measurable criterion.

UPF

Weetabix

UK · Post / Bright Food

Simple recipe: whole grain wheat, malted barley, salt. Low sugar (4.4g/100g). Cardboard packaging. Non-organic wheat with glyphosate pre-harvest risk. Synthetic vitamin fortification spray is NOVA 3 technically. Split US/China ownership. Acceptable as a mainstream cereal — the ingredient integrity is reasonable.

Gluten-free 4.4g sugar/100g — excellent. Simple recipe. Good for children. Not GF. Concerns: synthetic vitamin fortification (replacing what processing destroys), ownership split between US (Post) and Chinese (Bright Food) corporations. Product quality remains good.

PEST BPA UPF

Mornflake Organic Oats

UK · Cheshire · Family Mill since 1675

Organic range: Soil Association certified. Britain's oldest cereal company (1675). Paper packaging. Organic means pesticide-free. NOVA 1. UK-based mill. Non-GMO (organic). This rating applies to the organic range only — the non-organic range drops to amber tier.

ORG BPA UPF

Violife (vegan cheese)

Greece · Upfield

Coconut oil primary ingredient. Modified starch and colour additives. Non-organic. Plastic packaging. NOVA 4. Acceptable as an occasional dairy-free melting option but provides minimal nutritional value compared to real cheese and does not meet the clean-label standard of most Tier 2 products. Included here as the better end of vegan cheese options.

UPF SC

Quaker Oats (plain oats only)

USA · PepsiCo

Plain oats are a simple ingredient but non-organic UK oats carry significant glyphosate residue risk — pre-harvest desiccation is standard practice in British conventional oat farming. EWG (Environmental Working Group) consistently finds glyphosate in Quaker oats at concerning levels in their annual testing. PepsiCo corporate with no supply chain transparency. Flahavan's Organic is a direct drop-in replacement at the same price.

PEST UPF SC

Jordan's Country Crisp

UK · ABF

Some conservation farming commitment. But: high sugar in most flavoured variants (up to 28g/100g, qualifying as NOVA 4 UPF). ABF corporate. Non-organic. Standard packaging. The plain range is more acceptable; flavoured variants are a concern.

Gluten-free Whole grain, recognisable ingredients, conservation farming partnership. However sugar content is high in some variants (up to 28g/100g). ABF ownership. Plain range is acceptable; flavoured high-sugar variants should be avoided.

PEST UPF

Allinson's / Homepride Flour

UK · Allied Milling

Non-organic flour is the single highest-volume source of glyphosate exposure in the average UK diet — standard British wheat farming uses glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant to dry crops before harvest, leaving measurable residues in flour. Paper bag packaging is fine. Doves Farm Freee organic is a direct replacement with identical pricing.

Gluten-free Standard milling, no organic certification. Non-organic wheat may carry glyphosate residues (used as pre-harvest desiccant on UK non-organic wheat). Not GF. Acceptable for non-coeliacs but Doves Farm Freee or Waitrose Duchy Organic preferred for daily use.

PEST UPF

McVitie's Digestives / Hobnobs

UK · pladis / Yıldız

Contains palm oil (deforestation and supply chain ethics concern). Non-organic wheat — glyphosate risk. Some chocolate-coated variants contain HPMC and emulsifiers. NOVA 3. pladis (Turkish Yıldız Holding) corporate with limited transparency.

Gluten-free Reasonably clean ingredient list for the category but contains palm oil. pladis (Yıldız Holding Turkish conglomerate) ownership. Better than most mass biscuits but not recommended as a daily staple.

SC PEST UPF

Walkers Crisps

UK · PepsiCo

Non-organic potatoes — potatoes are on the PAN UK dirty dozen for pesticide residues, meaning they have among the highest detected residues of any vegetable in UK Government testing. Artificial flavours in many flavoured variants. NOVA 3 (flavoured). PepsiCo corporate.

Gluten-free PepsiCo-owned. Standard quality. Some artificial flavours in flavoured range. Plain salted/ready salted are cleaner. The Simply brand is better. Palm oil derivatives in some products.

PEST UPF SC

Müller Corner (flavoured)

Germany · Müller

Flavoured corners contain glucose-fructose syrup, modified corn starch, citric acid — NOVA 4. High sugar (16–20g per portion). Non-organic dairy. The plain yoghurt range is acceptable (Tier 2); this entry specifically covers flavoured variants.

UPF

Heinz Baked Beans (standard)

UK · Kraft Heinz

Standard BPA-lined can — acidic food in BPA-lined metal cans is a real exposure risk, and UK FSA launched a consultation on banning BPA from food contact materials in October 2025. Added sugar (4.5g/100g) and high salt. NOVA 3. Hodmedod's (BPA-free, UK-grown) is far superior on every criterion.

Gluten-free Simple recipe but added sugar and salt are notable. BPA can lining status unclear for UK market. Kraft Heinz corporate. "No Added Sugar" variant is significantly better. Acceptable occasionally.

BPA UPF

Standard tinned tomatoes (non-BPA-free)

Supermarket own-brand

Acidic food in BPA-lined cans is the highest BPA migration risk of any commonly eaten food — tomato acidity accelerates leaching faster than almost any other food. UK FSA BPA ban consultation ongoing; EU ban July 2026. Replace with Mutti (BPA-free since 2019) or glass passata immediately.

BPA PEST

Linda McCartney Foods

UK · Hain Celestial

Non-organic soy carries GMO risk — non-organic soy is globally one of the most heavily GM-cultivated crops. NOVA 3–4 across most products. Hain Celestial corporate. Acceptable occasionally — Tofoo and Better Nature Tempeh are far superior alternatives.

Gluten-free Soya-based, adequate quality. Some recognisable ingredients but longer lists in more processed products. Hain Celestial ownership. UPF classification for most products. Acceptable occasionally.

GMO UPF

Sun-Pat Peanut Butter (standard)

UK · Standard

Contains palm oil — the most significant deforestation driver in the global food supply chain. Added sugar and glucose syrup. Low peanut content relative to label expectation. Non-organic peanuts with pesticide and aflatoxin risk. Plastic jar. NOVA 4. Every alternative (Meridian, Pip & Nut) is cheaper or same-price and better on all criteria.

Gluten-free Contains palm oil, added sugar, glucose syrup, and emulsifiers. Low actual peanut content in some "smooth" varieties. Clear downgrade on every safety and ethical criteria versus Meridian or Pip & Nut.

SC UPF PEST

Ben & Jerry's

USA · Unilever

Fairtrade for some ingredients (positive). But emulsifiers present: soy lecithin, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids in many flavours. Glucose syrup. Modified starch. Non-organic dairy. NOVA 4 for most flavours. Unilever corporate. Acceptable as an occasional treat — Booja-Booja and Jude's are cleaner alternatives.

Gluten-free Fairtrade for some ingredients. Fun flavours. However Unilever ownership, emulsifiers, and glucose syrup present in many flavours. UPF classification. Occasional treat at best. Not a regular choice.

FT UPF

Activia Flavoured Yoghurt

France · Danone

12–16g sugar per 100g in most flavoured variants — the 'gut health' branding obscures the fact that this is nutritionally a high-sugar dessert product. Modified corn starch, glucose syrup, artificial fruit preparations. NOVA 4. Non-organic. The probiotic strain is significantly less diverse than traditional kefir.

UPF SC

Flora / Margarine Spreads

Various Corporate

Rapeseed/palm oil blends with emulsifiers (E471 mono- and diglycerides), modified starches, artificial vitamins, and flavourings to mimic butter taste. Non-organic oils with pesticide and GMO risk. Plastic tubs. NOVA 4. Palm oil deforestation concern. Real butter (Kerrygold, Yeo Valley) is better on all 10 criteria and the same price or less.

SC UPF GMO

Beyond Meat

USA · Corporate

Very high UPF: methylcellulose (wood-pulp derivative), multiple modified starches, refined coconut oil, yeast extract, artificial flavourings, numerous binders and stabilisers. Non-organic soy and pea protein. GMO risk on soy. One of the most heavily processed products in any UK supermarket.

GMO UPF

Felix / Whiskas

Nestlé / Mars

Unspecified 'meat and animal derivatives' — no supply chain transparency for sourcing. BPA-lined cans for wet food. Artificial colours in some dry food variants. Variable heavy metals from generic rendered meat. NOVA 4 (dry kibble). Nestlé/Mars corporate with no ethical certification.

Gluten-free Standard commercial pet food. Acceptable nutritional adequacy. Unspecified "meat and animal derivatives," no supply chain transparency, BPA-lined cans mostly, some artificial colours. Adequate but not ideal long-term.

SC BPA UPF

Bertolli / Filippo Berio 'EVOO'

Italy · Industrial Blends

Both brands implicated in EU olive oil adulteration investigations. 'Produce of European Union' blends provide zero origin traceability. Pale, flavourless oil indicates likely refining or blending with lower-quality oils. Plastic bottles common — microplastic ingress risk, especially if stored warm or in sunlight. 'Light' variants are definitively refined (not extra virgin) oil.

SC PLASTIC UPF

Budget blended honey ('EU and non-EU origins')

Various

Studies consistently find 50–70% of cheap blended honey is adulterated with corn syrup, rice syrup, or inverted sugar syrup. This is fraudulent misrepresentation. Origin blending hides source quality and any pesticide exposure. No traceability. Buy single-origin glass-jar honey exclusively.

SC PEST

Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza

Germany · Dr. Oetker Group

Reasonably recognisable ingredients. No artificial colours. Better than Chicago Town. Non-organic. NOVA 4 (commercial pizza = unavoidably ultra-processed). Standard packaging. Acceptable as an occasional meal.

Gluten-free Better than Chicago Town but still UPF. Reasonably recognisable ingredients for the category. Acceptable as an occasional frozen meal option.

UPF

Princes Tinned Fish (budget lines)

UK · Mitsubishi

Standard BPA-lined cans — not confirmed BPA-free, unlike Fish 4 Ever. Albacore (white) tuna lines have higher mercury than skipjack. Mitsubishi corporate with limited transparency. Only buy MSC-labelled products and choose skipjack over albacore.

BPA HM SC

Knorr Stock Cubes

UK · Unilever

Maltodextrin, flavour enhancers, and palm oil derivatives in some products. NOVA 3. Non-organic. Unilever corporate. Palm oil derivatives are a supply chain ethics concern. Kallo Organic is a direct replacement at the same price, with organic certification and no palm oil.

Gluten-free Adequate quality, widely available. Contains maltodextrin, yeast extract flavouring enhancers, palm oil derivatives in some products. Not GF certified. Unilever corporate. Kallo is a superior choice.

SC UPF

Dolmio Standard Pasta Sauces

UK · Mars

Modified cornstarch, citric acid, flavour enhancers. High sugar in some products (Dolmio's own nutritionist flagged 'occasional use' in 2015). NOVA 4 with significant additive load. Mars corporate. Glass jars are positive for BPA. Better alternatives exist at identical prices.

BPA UPF SC

Mass-market protein bars (PhD, Grenade, MyProtein bars)

Various

Consumer Reports: over two-thirds of protein products contain lead above safe daily exposure levels. Sugar alcohols cause digestive distress. Artificial sweeteners, palm kernel oil, PGPR (palm-derived emulsifier), and numerous stabilisers. Non-organic. NOVA 4. The heavy metals finding in this category specifically is the reason for the amber rating.

HM UPF SC

Goodfella's Frozen Pizza

Ireland · Premier Foods

Award-winning, no artificial colours or flavours, HFSS compliant — better than Chicago Town. But NOVA 4 unavoidably, non-organic, standard packaging. Not a product that scores well on any of the 10 criteria, but inoffensive as a very occasional meal.

UPF

Rice cakes (daily use)

Category Note — All Brands

Not a UPF concern — rice cakes are typically single-ingredient NOVA 1. The risk is heavy metals: puffed rice is concentrated rice, and rice bioaccumulates arsenic from flooded paddy soil at higher rates than any other grain. Daily rice cake consumption — especially for children — delivers arsenic exposure above EPA reference dose thresholds in published research. Occasional use is fine. Choose Kallo Organic for the cleanest version available.

UPF HM

Laughing Cow / Dairylea

Corporate

Cannot legally be called 'cheese' in many jurisdictions — 'processed cheese product' is more accurate. Emulsifying salts (sodium phosphates), modified starch, whey protein concentrate, stabilisers. Non-organic dairy. NOVA 4. All real cheeses are meaningfully better choices on every criterion.

UPF SC

Tetley Tea (bags with polypropylene seal)

UK · Tata

Some Tetley bag lines still use polypropylene heat-seal construction — which releases billions of microplastic particles per cup of tea brewed in boiling water. Check the specific packaging before purchasing. Rainforest Alliance only. Non-organic.

PLASTIC PEST FT

Arla LactoFREE Standard (non-organic)

UK · Arla

Two ingredients: milk + lactase enzyme. Clean label. FSC carton. But: non-organic dairy means pesticide residues in animal feed. 2024 Bovaer (methane supplement) controversy — cows in the standard range may receive this additive. GMO soy in feed possible. Acceptable daily dairy but the organic range is clearly preferable.

PEST SC GMO

Ella's Kitchen (rice-based lines specifically)

UK · Hain Celestial

Organic certification is real and maintained. However rice-based infant products specifically carry arsenic concerns, and Ella's Kitchen does not publish per-batch heavy metal testing results for these specific lines. For non-rice Ella's products, see Tier 2 entry.

HM

Budget / discount retailer own-brand (ambient)

Aldi, Lidl, Spar, Budgens

Generic own-brand products from budget and discount retailers: non-organic throughout, standard BPA-lined cans, no Fairtrade or organic certifications, no published supply chain information, NOVA 3–4 for all processed products. Acceptable for simple staples; avoid for acidic tinned foods (BPA concern) and products where pesticide or heavy metal exposure is relevant.

SC BPA

Kellogg's (UK) non-sugary range (Special K, All-Bran)

UK · Mars/Kellanova

Lower sugar variants (Special K 15g/100g) are modestly better than Frosties but still: non-organic wheat with glyphosate pre-harvest risk, synthetic vitamin spray-on fortification, some modified starch. NOVA 3–4. Mars/Kellanova corporate following acquisition.

PEST UPF SC

Standard plastic water bottles (single-use PET)

Evian, Volvic, Highland Spring plastic

The water itself is safe — the packaging is the entire concern. PET plastic bottles leach microplastics and nanoplastics into the water, with Columbia University (2024) finding approximately 240,000 detectable nanoplastic particles per litre. Heat and UV light accelerate leaching. Glass or stainless-steel reusable bottles with filtered tap water eliminate this exposure entirely.

PLASTIC BPA HM

Quorn (flavoured and seasoned variants)

UK · Monde Nissin

Flavoured and seasoned Quorn — pieces in sauce, nuggets, 'fishless fingers', etc — contains modified starch, yeast extract, dextrose, added emulsifiers, and artificial flavourings. NOVA 4. This is distinct from the plain frozen mince and pieces (Tier 2).

UPF

Cadbury / Mondelez (full range)

UK · Mondelez International

Ethical Consumer score under 25/100. Cannot guarantee child-labour-free cocoa supply chains at the scale it operates. Palm oil throughout — published zero-deforestation targets not met. Non-organic, non-Fairtrade on most lines (Rainforest Alliance only). Non-organic bulk cocoa has higher cadmium from phosphate fertilisers. NOVA 4. Covers Dairy Milk, Roses, Heroes, Crunchie, Caramel, Flake, Twirl, and all Cadbury products.

SC FT UPF HM

Galaxy / Mars chocolate range

USA · Mars Inc.

Under 25/100 Ethical Consumer. Child labour risk in cocoa supply chain documented. Palm oil throughout. Non-organic. Rainforest Alliance only. Mars also owns Dolmio, Pedigree, Whiskas, Uncle Ben's, Wrigley, and Kellanova/Kellogg's — a corporate concentration of poorly-scoring supply chains. NOVA 4.

Gluten-free Under 25/100 Ethical Consumer rating. Mars owns Dolmio, Uncle Ben's, Kellogg's cereals (Kellanova), Wrigley, and pets food (Pedigree, Whiskas). Supply chain child labour concerns. Palm oil throughout.

SC FT UPF

KitKat / Aero / Quality Street (Nestlé)

Switzerland · Nestlé

Nestlé holds the most extensively documented corporate ethics concerns in the global food industry (infant formula, water rights, child labour in cocoa). Under 25/100 Ethical Consumer. Palm oil. Non-organic. Artificial flavours in some products. Non-organic cocoa cadmium risk. Rainforest Alliance only. Where any alternative exists, avoid Nestlé products on supply chain criterion alone.

Gluten-free Under 25/100 Ethical Consumer. Nestlé has the most documented corporate ethical controversies of any food company globally (infant formula, water rights, child labour). Avoid Nestlé brands where alternatives exist.

SC FT UPF

Nutella / Ferrero Rocher (Ferrero)

Italy · Ferrero

Nutella: palm oil is the first ingredient — over 50% of the jar. Refined sugar is the second. Child labour documented in Ferrero's hazelnut and cocoa supply chains. Non-organic. NOVA 4. Ferrero under 25/100 Ethical Consumer. Nutella is structurally a sugar and palm oil product with modest hazelnut and cocoa additions — not a nut butter.

SC UPF FT

Kellogg's Frosties / Coco Pops / Froot Loops

UK · Mars/Kellanova

35–43g sugar per 100g — a standard 30g serving of Frosties contains more sugar than an adult's entire recommended daily free-sugar intake. Vitamins sprayed on after high-temperature extrusion to replace those destroyed. Non-organic corn with pesticide and GMO risk. Plastic inner bag. NOVA 4. Mars/Kellanova following acquisition.

Gluten-free 35-43g sugar per 100g — 9+ teaspoons per bowl. Vitamins are sprayed on to replace what high-temperature extrusion destroys. Very high UPF. Now owned by Mars Inc. Not appropriate as a daily breakfast for children at any age.

UPF UPF GMO SC

Pringles

USA · Kellanova/Mars

Not potato crisps — engineered food product. Made from dehydrated potato flakes, wheat starch, corn flour, and rice flour formed into identical hyperbolic paraboloid shapes under industrial pressure. Multiple modified starches, maltodextrin, artificial flavour compounds, rice starch coating. NOVA 4. The cardboard tube is not the issue — the product itself is a designed food system rather than food.

Gluten-free Engineered potato "dough" — not real potato slices. Numerous artificial flavour compounds, MSG derivatives, modified starches. Very high UPF. More similar to a fabricated food product than a vegetable-derived snack.

UPF GMO

Monster Munch / Wotsits / Nik Naks

UK · Intersnack

E110 (Sunset Yellow FCF) artificial colour in some products — linked to hyperactivity in children by EFSA, requiring a warning label in the EU. Flavour enhancers MSG and disodium inosinate. Modified starches. Non-organic corn. NOVA 4. The artificial colourant specifically makes these inappropriate as daily snacks for children.

ALLERGY UPF

Wall's ice cream (Cornetto / Feast / Twister)

UK · Unilever

Emulsifiers: mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, carrageenan, polysorbate 65 — growing research links these emulsifiers to gut microbiome disruption. Dextrose, glucose syrup, modified starch. Artificial colours and flavours in some products. Non-organic. NOVA 4. These are confectionery products, not food in any conventional nutritional sense.

UPF ALLERGY

Coca-Cola / Pepsi / Fanta / Lucozade Energy

Various Corporate

Full-sugar: 10–12g/100ml — a 330ml can delivers 35g free sugar, exceeding the UK adult daily limit in one drink. Diet/Zero: aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose — ongoing research on gut microbiome disruption. PET plastic bottles: 240,000 nanoplastic particles per litre (Columbia University 2024). High acidity erodes dental enamel. NOVA 4.

PLASTIC UPF ALLERGY

Chicago Town Pizza / Deep Dish Range

UK · Dr. Oetker Group

The most heavily processed frozen pizza in UK mainstream retail. Contains modified corn starch, mono- and diglycerides, dextrose, artificial cheese analogue in some lines, numerous emulsifiers, and artificial flavourings — an extensive additive list even within the NOVA 4 pizza category.

UPF SC

Rice-based baby cereals — ALL brands

Category Warning

This applies regardless of brand, price, or organic status. Rice accumulates inorganic arsenic from flooded paddy soils, and rice-based infant cereals have higher arsenic concentrations per serving than any other common infant food. Developing brains are significantly more vulnerable to arsenic than adults. The NHS advises against rice drinks for children under 5. Choose oat-based, millet-based, or buckwheat cereals for infants and toddlers instead.

HM ALLERGY

Budget supermarket tuna (no MSC label, standard cans)

Category Warning

No sustainability certification — net-caught methods typical, with high bycatch. Standard BPA-lined cans not confirmed BPA-free. Net-caught tuna includes older, larger fish with higher mercury accumulation. Heavy metal and BPA exposure from a single product simultaneously.

BPA HM SC

Oreos (Mondelez)

USA · Mondelez

Palm oil. Glucose-fructose syrup. Alkali-processed cocoa (Dutch process destroys the antioxidants that make cocoa nutritious). Artificial vanilla flavour. Modified starch. Mondelez child labour concerns in cocoa. Non-organic, non-Fairtrade. GMO risk on corn and soy. NOVA 4. Over 10 individual additives in the ingredient list.

Gluten-free Palm oil, glucose-fructose syrup (UK uses glucose syrup), alkali-processed cocoa destroying natural antioxidants, artificial vanilla flavour, modified starch. Very high UPF. Mondelez ethical concerns. A deeply processed engineered snack.

SC UPF GMO FT

Budget jam (low fruit content — Hartley's, Robertson's standard)

Various

30% or less fruit content in the cheapest lines — the rest is glucose-fructose syrup, modified pectin, and citric acid. NOVA 4. Non-organic. No Fairtrade, no transparency, no certification. The regulatory minimum for a jam is 35% fruit — the cheapest brands are at or near this floor. St Dalfour and Wilkin & Sons are better in every way.

UPF SC

Pedigree / Bakers / Winalot Dog Food

UK · Mars Inc.

Mars corporate. 'Meat and animal derivatives' with no supply chain transparency — no information on what animals, what parts, or what conditions. Artificial colours including E150c (class IV caramel) in some Pedigree and Bakers formulations, linked to veterinary concerns. Bakers specifically has been flagged by UK veterinary associations for colourant use. NOVA 4 equivalent.

SC ALLERGY BCORP

Uncle Ben's / Dolmio Express Range

UK · Mars

The most significant concern is the format: microwave-in-pouch plastic. Heating food in a plastic flexible pouch in a microwave releases microplastics and nanoplastics directly into food. 'Microwave safe' means the pouch doesn't melt — it does not mean no plastic migration occurs. Added to this: modified starch, glucose syrup, emulsifiers. NOVA 4. Non-organic rice and corn.

PLASTIC UPF GMO

Pot Noodle / Pot Rice / Cup Noodles

UK · Unilever / Nissin

Polystyrene or hard plastic cups with boiling water added directly — one of the highest routes of plastic ingress of any food product. At high temperatures, plastics release BPA, phthalates, and styrene monomers into the liquid. Modified starches, MSG, artificial flavours, HVP (with potential 3-MCPD contaminant from processing). NOVA 4.

PLASTIC UPF HM

Standard supermarket white/brown bread (Warburtons, Kingsmill, Hovis standard)

UK · Various

Non-organic wheat with glyphosate pre-harvest risk. NOVA 4 classification: calcium propionate (E282), diacetyl tartaric acid esters (DATEM), mono- and diglycerides, and typically 10–15 additives total. Palm oil derivatives in some products. Plastic bags. More additives by count than most plant-based meat products. Sourdough bread (simple flour, water, salt, starter) is a clean alternative.

PEST UPF SC

Birds Eye Standard Ready Meals

UK · Nomad Foods

Xanthan gum, guar gum, modified starches, carrageenan, stabilisers throughout. Many meals exceed 40% of daily recommended salt intake per serving. Artificial flavourings. Microwave-in-plastic-tray format — plastic ingress concern when heated. NOVA 4. Note: Birds Eye GF fish fingers are a separate product rated silver tier — this rating covers the ready meal range only.

PLASTIC UPF

Heinz Baby Food (weaning range)

UK · Kraft Heinz

Kraft Heinz does not publish per-batch heavy metal testing results for its baby food range. Some high-sugar flavoured products. PFAS status of plastic pouches unknown. NOVA 3–4. Limited supply chain transparency for a baby food brand. HiPP and Piccolo publish substantially more safety data at the same or lower price.

Gluten-free Processing concerns, some high-sugar ranges, limited heavy metals testing transparency versus HiPP or Piccolo. The weaning savoury pouches are lower risk but Heinz lacks the published testing standards of the premium GF baby brands.

HM UPF SC

Ribena / Capri-Sun / standard squash drinks

Various Corporate

Ribena: primarily added sugar or artificial sweeteners in standard range. Capri-Sun: foil/plastic pouch — uncertain microplastic ingress from complex packaging. High free sugar or artificial sweeteners. Citric acid — dental enamel erosion concern for children. NOVA 4. Not recommended for children as a regular drink on any of the 10 criteria.

UPF PLASTIC ALLERGY

Ragu Pasta Sauce

USA · Mizkan

Glucose syrup, modified cornstarch, citric acid, artificial flavouring, and in some lines HVP (hydrolysed vegetable protein). Very low tomato content. NOVA 4. Mizkan corporate with minimal UK transparency. One of the lowest-quality mainstream pasta sauces by ingredient integrity available in UK supermarkets.

Gluten-free Poor ingredient quality — glucose syrup, citric acid, artificial flavouring, modified starches. Very low tomato content in some lines. Mizkan corporate with limited UK transparency. One of the lowest-quality mainstream pasta sauces available.

UPF SC

Kellogg's / Nestlé kids flavoured cereals (Nesquik, Cookie Crisp, Coco Shreddies)

UK · Various Corporate

35–43g sugar per 100g. Synthetic vitamins sprayed on after high-temperature extrusion to replace what was destroyed. Non-organic corn/wheat with GMO and pesticide risk. Artificial colours in some. NOVA 4. Daily consumption by children provides more sugar per serving than most confectionery. No credible food safety framework supports these as regular children's breakfast foods.

UPF UPF GMO

Any microwave meal in a plastic tray

Category Warning

Microwaving food in a plastic tray — whether labelled 'microwave safe' or not — releases microplastics and nanoplastics directly into food. 'Microwave safe' indicates the container won't melt; it does not mean plastic migration doesn't occur. Research shows microwaving in plastic releases millions to billions of particles per litre equivalent into food. Glass or ceramic containers are the only safe microwave option.

PLASTIC BPA

Hot drink in polystyrene or single-use plastic-lined cup

Category Warning

Polystyrene cups leach styrene monomers into hot liquids (IARC Group 2B possible carcinogen). Disposable coffee cups with plastic lining release an estimated 25,000+ microplastic particles into each hot beverage within 15 minutes of contact. This applies to takeaway coffee cups, vending machines, and instant noodle cups. A ceramic or glass cup eliminates this risk entirely and costs nothing extra.

PLASTIC BPA

Non-stick cookware (PTFE / PFAS-coated pans)

Category Warning

PTFE ('Teflon') coatings release PFAS compounds when overheated above approximately 260°C — easily reached on an ordinary hob. Scratched non-stick coatings release PTFE microparticles directly into food. PFAS are 'forever chemicals' — they bioaccumulate in human tissue and are linked to thyroid disruption, immune suppression, and cancer. UK FSA is actively assessing; the EU PFAS food contact ban takes effect August 2026. Cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic are safe alternatives.

BPA HM

Doves Farm Freee

UK · B Corp · Soil Association

Gluten-free B Corp certified. Soil Association organic. Coeliac UK Crossed Grain across entire Freee range. Purity-protocol GF oats (batch R5 tested), organic GF flour (widest UK range), pasta, cereals, and baking mixes. Unrivalled range breadth for organic + GF.

Seed & Bean

UK · Independent Chocolate

Gluten-free UK organic chocolate pioneer. Soil Association certified. Fairtrade. First UK chocolate brand to use fully compostable packaging. Handmade in England. No palm oil. Zero child-labour supply chain concerns.

Ombar

UK · Organic

Gluten-free Raw cacao chocolate with live probiotic cultures, low sugar (coconut sugar), single-origin Ecuadorian cacao. Soil Association and Fairtrade certified. UK brand.

Citizens of Soil

UK · B Corp · EVOO

Gluten-free B Corp certified EVOO. Complete single-estate traceability. Pioneer of refill model (lower-carbon pouches). Certified organic. High polyphenol profile confirming quality. Best ethical olive oil in UK mainstream retail 2026.

Zaytoun

Palestine · Fairtrade · Organic

Gluten-free Palestinian farmer cooperative. Fairtrade and organic certified. Social enterprise supporting livelihoods of Palestinian farmers. Award-winning quality, full supply chain ethics, glass bottles.

HiPP Organic

Germany · Family-Owned

Gluten-free Gold standard for baby food safety. Organic and Demeter biodynamic certified. Glass jars eliminate pouch plastic concerns. Stringent heavy metal testing above legal minimum. Published safety standards. Family-owned German company.

Piccolo

UK · Organic Baby Food

Gluten-free UK-founded. Soil Association certified. Mediterranean-inspired weaning foods designed by a nutritionist. No rice-based cereals in core range. Good heavy metals transparency. Clean labels throughout.

Organix

UK · Soil Association

Gluten-free Soil Association certified. No artificial additives in any product. Pioneer of UK organic baby food. Good sourcing transparency. The Good Shopping Guide rates above benchmark for ethical practices.

Little Freddie

UK · Organic

Gluten-free Organic certified, glass jars available, Soil Association certified. Clean labels, good heavy metals transparency. Premium baby food with genuine safety credentials.

Grumpy Mule

UK · B Corp · Organic

Gluten-free B Corp certified UK coffee roaster. Organic, Fairtrade, direct-trade partnerships. Specialty-grade beans roasted in Yorkshire. Exceptional ethical sourcing.

Meridian Natural

UK · Independent

Gluten-free 100% peanuts. Nothing else. No palm oil, no added salt, no added sugar. Organic range available. UK brand. The cleanest peanut butter at everyday prices. Benchmark for the category.

St Dalfour

France · No Added Sugar

Gluten-free Sweetened exclusively with grape juice concentrate and fruit. No added refined sugar. Very high fruit content. Excellent for reduced-sugar diets. Clean label throughout.

Tyrrells

UK · Herefordshire

Gluten-free British hand-cooked crisps from Herefordshire potatoes. Natural ingredients only: potatoes, sunflower oil, sea salt. No artificial flavours, colours, or MSG. Product quality remains high despite Hershey corporate acquisition.

Nim's Fruit Crisps

UK · Air-Dried

Gluten-free 100% air-dried British fruit and vegetables. Single-ingredient crisps — no oil, no salt, no additives. One of the cleanest snack products available in UK supermarkets at any price point.

Biotiful Kefir

UK · Organic

Gluten-free Traditional kefir using 40+ live cultures — far more probiotic diversity than standard yoghurt. Organic range. UK-based. Exceptional gut health credentials. Clean label throughout.

Doves Farm (standard range)

UK · B Corp · Organic

Gluten-free B Corp certified, Soil Association organic standard flour range. Widest ancient grain and specialty flour selection in UK mainstream supermarkets. UK's leading organic flour brand.

Bellfield Brewery

UK · Edinburgh · Dedicated GF

Gluten-free UK's most celebrated dedicated GF brewery. Coeliac-owned and founded. All beers brewed from 100% GF ingredients — no barley ever used. World Beer Award winners. The only definitively coeliac-safe UK craft beer brand.

Sacla'

Italy · Premium Italian

Gluten-free Premium Italian pesto and pasta sauces. Quality olive oil, genuine Italian ingredients, no artificial additives. Classic Basil Pesto contains no palm oil. One of the cleaner mainstream Italian sauce brands.

Borderfields / Farrington's Mellow Yellow

UK · Cold-Pressed Rapeseed

Gluten-free British cold-pressed rapeseed oil. Grown and pressed in the UK. High in omega-3 and vitamin E. Better ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 than standard vegetable oils. Naturally lower saturated fat than olive oil.

Schär (GF range)

Italy · Europe's Largest Dedicated GF Brand

Gluten-free Everything manufactured in dedicated GF-only facilities. Crossed Grain certified across entire range — bread, wraps, pasta, crackers, pizza bases, cereals, biscuits. The most comprehensive dedicated GF brand in UK supermarkets.

Rummo Gluten-Free Pasta

Italy · Bronze-Die

Gluten-free Gold standard for GF pasta texture. Bronze-die extruded (rougher surface catches sauce). Corn and rice flour blend. Most closely replicates traditional semolina pasta. Consistently rated best-tasting GF pasta by coeliac community.

Explore Cuisine Legume Pasta

International · Chickpea / Lentil

Gluten-free Legume-based GF pasta with far lower arsenic risk than rice alternatives. 11-13g protein per serving. High fibre. Naturally GF. The safest pasta choice for coeliacs eating pasta frequently.

Nairn's Gluten-Free Range

Scotland · Crossed Grain

Gluten-free Coeliac UK Crossed Grain certified oatcakes, biscuits, and porridge. Purity-protocol oat base — nutritionally superior to rice alternatives. Dedicated GF oat fields, separate milling. Best UK GF oat-based biscuit brand.

Forthglade

UK · Devon · B Corp · Pet Food

Gluten-free B Corp certified Devon-made natural wet pet food. Named meat proteins, whole vegetables, no artificial additives. Dedicated to genuinely natural pet nutrition. Available at Waitrose and Ocado.

Scrumbles

UK · B Corp · Pet Food

Gluten-free B Corp certified UK pet food brand. Natural ingredients, no artificial additives, gut-friendly probiotics added. Good supply chain transparency. A genuine ethical choice in a largely unregulated category.

Own-Brand TunaSainsbury's

Sainsbury's

Gluten-free Ranked #1 by Greenpeace UK for sustainable tuna. All tuna is pole-and-line caught. Good choice for budget-conscious sustainable seafood shoppers.

John West (MSC-labelled lines)

UK · Thai Union

Gluten-free MSC certified, pole-and-line for most tuna. Acceptable when buying MSC-labelled products specifically. Concern: Thai Union corporate ownership with historical labour issues. Choose labelled lines only.

Lurpak

Denmark · Arla

Gluten-free Danish co-operative dairy. Clean ingredients: cream and salt only. Good animal welfare standards via Arla co-op. The Slightly Salted range is minimal. Acceptable everyday butter for those not needing organic.

Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise (free-range)

UK · Unilever

Gluten-free The free-range egg version has a simple, clean ingredient list. Rapeseed oil, free-range eggs, vinegar, salt. One of the better mass-market mayonnaises. Unilever ownership is the main concern.

Heinz Tomato Ketchup (UK formulation)

UK · Kraft Heinz

Gluten-free UK version uses sugar, not HFCS. Simple, recognisable ingredients. Confirmed gluten-free. The "No Added Sugar" version better. Concerns: Kraft Heinz corporate, BPA-unclear packaging. Acceptable as UK staple.

Patak's (paste range)

UK · ABF

Gluten-free Classic UK Indian cooking pastes. Authentic spice blends, generally good quality. The paste range is notably cleaner than jar sauces. ABF ownership. Acceptable as a mainstream Indian cooking staple.

Blue Dragon

UK · Asian Sauces

Gluten-free Good quality Asian sauces and pastes. Thai curry pastes and fish sauce are clean-label. Some products contain preservatives — check individual labels. Available at all major UK supermarkets.

Bonne Maman

France · Andros Group

Gluten-free Good quality French jam. Higher fruit content than UK supermarket own-brands. Natural ingredients, no artificial preservatives. Standard sugar levels but genuinely good quality recipe.

Innocent Drinks (juices/smoothies)

UK · Coca-Cola

Gluten-free 100% juice with no additives. B Corp status. Good nutritional quality for the category. However Coca-Cola investor, and juice is high in free sugars. Treat as an occasional drink.

Mornflake Gluten-Free Oats

UK · Cheshire · Crossed Grain

Gluten-free Coeliac UK licensed. Dedicated wheat-free supply chain and milling. Britain's oldest cereal brand now applying rigorous GF standards. Good value GF oats from a trusted heritage brand.

Warburtons Gluten Free

UK · Newburn Bakehouse

Gluten-free Dedicated GF bakery in Newcastle. Milk-free, wheat-free. Tiger Loaf, Square Rolls, and crumpets particularly well-regarded. Crossed Grain certified. Widely available across UK supermarkets.

Genius Gluten Free

UK · Dedicated GF Facility

Gluten-free UK-founded dedicated GF brand. Seeded loaf and rolls well-regarded. Coeliac UK endorsed. Baked in dedicated GF facility. Some batch consistency issues reported. Available at all major supermarkets.

M&S Free From Range

M&S · Dedicated Bakery

Gluten-free Best-quality mainstream GF bread in UK (seeded loaf). Baked in dedicated GF bakery. Crossed Grain. Also excellent GF biscuits, flour, and ready meals. M&S joint-first in PAN UK pesticide rankings.

Promise Gluten Free

UK · High Fibre GF

Gluten-free Notable for unusually high fibre content for a GF bread. Multigrain loaf addresses the fibre deficit common in GF diets. Crossed Grain certified. Dedicated GF production.

BFree

Ireland · Allergen-Free

Gluten-free Gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free — ideal for multiple dietary needs. Dedicated facility. Good wrap and roll texture. The part-baked baguettes are well-regarded in the GF community.

Barilla Gluten-Free Pasta

Italy · Mass-Market

Gluten-free Corn and rice blend. Good mainstream GF pasta — widely available, holds its shape, absorbs sauce well. Best-tested mass-market GF pasta brand internationally. The penne and fusilli are particularly good.

Garofalo Gluten-Free Pasta

Italy · Gragnano · Traditional

Gluten-free From the historical birthplace of pasta. Premium GF pasta with excellent texture. Corn and rice flour base. Available at Ocado and specialist Italian food stores.

Delicious Alchemy

UK · Dedicated GF Brand

Gluten-free 100% dedicated GF brand. Crossed Grain on all products. Purity-protocol oats. GF muesli, granola, and cereals. Oats "specially grown, harvested and tested at every stage." Reliable throughout.

Bob's Red Mill GF Range

USA · 100% Dedicated Facility

Gluten-free Produced in a 100% dedicated GF facility. GFCO certified (<10ppm). Excellent 1-to-1 baking flour blend with sorghum base (less rice-reliant). Available at Waitrose, Ocado.

Glebe Farm PureOaty Oat Milk

UK · Only Crossed Grain Oat Milk

Gluten-free The only oat milk in UK mainstream retail certified safe for coeliacs. Made from Glebe Farm's own purity-protocol oats. Crossed Grain symbol. Organic. A unique, genuinely essential product for oat-milk-drinking coeliacs.

Juvela Pure Oats

UK · Prescribed Quality

Gluten-free Medically prescribed brand with rigorous purity protocol. Available via pharmacies and online. Familiar to newly-diagnosed coeliacs. Excellent safety credentials at prescription-grade standard.

Collective Dairy

New Zealand-inspired · UK

Gluten-free NZ-inspired natural yoghurt, UK-made. Natural ingredients, no thickeners or modified starch. Good quality clean-label product available at major UK supermarkets.

Ritter Sport

Germany · Alfred Ritter GmbH · Family

Gluten-free Family-owned German brand. Owns its own cocoa plantation in Nicaragua. Rainforest Alliance certified. No palm oil. Better than all Big Five corporate chocolate brands on ethics and quality.

Duchy Organic (Waitrose range)

UK · Royal Warrant · Organic

Gluten-free Organic certified across entire range. Traditional UK recipes. Good quality biscuits, olive oil, flour, and preserves. Waitrose exclusive. Royal Duchy provenance with genuine organic credentials.

New Covent Garden Soup Co.

UK · Chilled

Gluten-free Chilled (not tinned) soups with fresh, clean ingredients. No artificial additives. UK brand. Chilled format avoids BPA can concerns and retains better nutrient profile.

Baxters Organic / GF Soups

Scotland · Family-Owned

Gluten-free Scottish family business since 1868. Organic and gluten-free ranges. Simple, recognisable ingredients. Good transparency. The Highland range uses Scottish-sourced ingredients.

Rowse Honey (single-origin range)

UK · Hive & Keeper

Gluten-free The single-origin and "Taste the Difference" ranges are traceable. A genuine step up from blended honey. Choose single-origin varieties clearly labelled with country of origin.

Lily's Kitchen

UK · Nestlé-Owned · Premium Pet Food

Gluten-free Named meat proteins, Soil Association organic range. Vet-approved. UK-founded with quality maintained post Nestlé acquisition. The organic range is the cleanest mainstream premium pet food in UK.

PG Tips / Tetley

Unilever / Tata · Mainstream Tea

Gluten-free PG Tips removed plastic bags in 2018. Both Rainforest Alliance certified. Acceptable for everyday use but neither matches Clipper or Yorkshire Tea for ethical credentials. Corporate concern only.

Belazu Extra Virgin Olive Oil

UK · Single Origin

Gluten-free Good single-origin Mediterranean oils with clear provenance. No organic certification on most lines but excellent quality and transparent sourcing. Genuinely named-origin oils.

Glutenberg GF Beer

Canada · Dedicated GF Brewery

Gluten-free Award-winning dedicated GF brewery. Brewed from millet, buckwheat, quinoa, and amaranth — no barley ever. Wide range of styles. GFCO certified (<10ppm). Available at Ocado and UK specialist retailers.

Whole Earth (organic range)

UK · Ecotone

Gluten-free Organic range is genuinely clean. Owned by Ecotone (a B Corp). Standard range adds small amount of sea salt which is acceptable. Better than mainstream peanut butter alternatives.

Quaker Oats (plain range only)

USA · PepsiCo

Gluten-free Simple ingredient (100% wholegrain oats) in plain range — positive. However: PepsiCo ownership, non-organic means potential glyphosate residues, and flavoured/instant sachet range is heavily UPF with added sugar. Plain only. Unsafe for coeliacs (standard supply chain).

Ella's Kitchen

UK · Hain Celestial

Gluten-free Organic certified, widely available. However: insufficient publicly available heavy metals testing data for baby food, plastic pouch packaging, and Hain Celestial corporate ownership. Safe for most children but does not meet the transparency bar of HiPP or Piccolo.

Quorn (plain mince/pieces only)

UK · Monde Nissin

Gluten-free Mycoprotein is nutritionally strong (complete protein, high fibre). Removed artificial ingredients from core frozen range 2024. UK-produced. However most products remain NOVA 4 UPF. Some contain egg white. Best choices: Mince and Pieces only.

THIS (plant-based)

UK · Independent

Gluten-free UK-founded, progressively removing artificial ingredients, launched cleaner whole-food ranges. More transparent than most. Still a processed product but better than Beyond/Impossible. Innovation-forward.

Green & Black's (post-Mondelez)

UK · Mondelez

Gluten-free Soil Association organic certification is genuine and retained. However Mondelez corporate control (which scores poorly on child labour and supply chain globally) undermines the overall ethical credentials significantly.

Müller Corner (plain yoghurt only)

Germany · Müller

Gluten-free Plain yoghurt and crème fraîche are clean. The fruit-corner range has glucose-fructose syrup, modified corn starch, and citric acid in the compôte. Plain = acceptable. Flavoured corners = avoid daily.

Waitrose GF / Sainsbury's GF own-brand bread

Supermarket Own

Gluten-free GF certified and generally safe. Waitrose GF Farmhouse Loaf praised by coeliac community. However longer ingredient lists with HPMC and stabilisers. Waitrose rates higher than Sainsbury's for overall pesticide policies (PAN UK).

Peroni Gluten-Free / Daura Damm

Italy / Spain · Enzymatically Treated

Gluten-free "Gluten-removed" not "GF grain" beers. Enzyme treatment may not remove all immunologically reactive fragments. Coeliac UK advises caution. Some sensitive coeliacs report reactions. Widely available but not definitively coeliac-safe.

Princes Tinned Fish (MSC only)

UK · Mitsubishi

Gluten-free Mixed sustainability record historically. Owned by Mitsubishi Corporation. Some Fairtrade certified lines. Choose MSC-labelled products only. Lower transparency on can linings and sourcing than John West or Fish 4 Ever.

Supermarket own-brand GF pasta (rice-flour only)

Tesco · Sainsbury's

Gluten-free GF certified and coeliac-safe. However pure white rice flour base — highest arsenic risk of any GF pasta type. Adequate for occasional use. Not recommended as a daily staple due to arsenic accumulation concern.

Kellogg's UK Rice Krispies / Corn Flakes

UK · Mars (Kellanova)

Gluten-free Carry "may contain gluten" warning in UK due to shared production lines. NOT safe for coeliacs despite naturally GF grain base. For non-coeliacs: high UPF, artificial fortification, moderate sugar.

Standard GF Rice Cakes (all brands)

Kallo · Ryvita · Generic

Gluten-free GF certified for standard safety standards. However concentrated rice means concentrated arsenic. Not recommended as a daily snack — especially for children with coeliac disease.

Oatly / Alpro Oat / Minor Figures oat milk

Various · Non-GF Oats

Gluten-free Excellent quality oat milks for non-coeliacs. However no Crossed Grain symbol, standard (non-purity-protocol) oats used. NOT safe for confirmed coeliacs. For non-GF shoppers: Oatly Barista is the best quality mainstream oat milk.

Budget blended honey ("EU and non-EU origins")

Various

Gluten-free Up to 50-70% of cheap blended honey on the market is adulterated with corn or rice syrup. Origin blending hides inferior products. No traceability. Not suitable as a regular purchase.

Budget supermarket ketchup / flavoured mayo

Various Own-Brand

Gluten-free Typically contain artificial colours, modified starch, glucose-fructose syrup, lower tomato/egg content. Not as dramatically harmful as tier 4 but meaningfully worse than Heinz or Stokes alternatives.

Bertolli / Filippo Berio "Extra Virgin"

Italy · Industrial

Gluten-free Both brands implicated in EU olive oil adulteration investigations. "Produce of European Union" blends with no named origin. Pale, flavourless oil is a red flag for quality. Light variants are definitively refined oil. Poor value and provenance.

Standard soy sauce (Kikkoman regular, Blue Dragon regular)

Various

Gluten-free Contains wheat — unsafe for coeliacs. A single tablespoon contains enough gluten to trigger a coeliac reaction. Safe for non-GF shoppers but the category has better alternatives (tamari) for everyone.

Philadephia / Soft Cheese standard

Kraft Heinz

Gluten-free The plain variety is acceptable (milk, cream, salt). However flavoured varieties add modified starch, xanthan gum, preservatives. Kraft Heinz corporate. Acceptable plain; avoid the flavoured ranges daily.

Rude Health (non-Crossed Grain GF products)

UK · Organic

Gluten-free Excellent for non-coeliacs — organic, natural, great quality. However not all products carry the Crossed Grain symbol. Not reliably coeliac-safe unless specific certification is confirmed per product. Check each label.

Cadbury / Mondelez range

UK · Mondelez International

Gluten-free Scores under 25/100 on Ethical Consumer's ratings. Cannot guarantee child-labour-free supply chains at scale. Palm oil in many products. Rainforest Alliance only (weaker than Fairtrade). Covers: Cadbury Dairy Milk, Roses, Heroes, Crunchie, Caramel, Flake, Twirl.

Ferrero Rocher / Nutella

Italy · Ferrero

Gluten-free Palm oil in Nutella is a primary ingredient. Child labour concerns in hazelnuts and cocoa supply chains documented. Scores under 25/100. Nutella: palm oil, refined sugar, and skimmed milk as primary ingredients — genuinely poor nutritional profile.

Nestlé Nesquik / Shreddies cereals

Switzerland · Nestlé

Gluten-free 38g sugar/100g (Nesquik). High UPF. Synthetic vitamin fortification. Nestlé ethical concerns (see above). Shreddies is more reasonable at 15g sugar/100g but the corporate concern remains.

Dolmio / Uncle Ben's

UK · Mars Inc.

Gluten-free Dolmio's own nutritionist flagged some products as "occasional use" in 2015. High sugar, modified cornstarch, flavour enhancers. Mars corporate. Express range especially heavily processed. NOVA 4 UPF throughout.

Monster Munch / Wotsits / Nik Naks (KP)

UK · Intersnack

Gluten-free Artificial colours (E110 Yellow — linked to hyperactivity in children), flavour enhancers, MSG, modified starches. Very high UPF. The artificial colourants are of particular concern for children.

Wall's Ice Cream (Cornetto / Feast / Twister)

UK · Unilever

Gluten-free Emulsifiers (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, carrageenan), dextrose, glucose syrup, artificial flavours and colours in many products. Very high UPF classification. These are dessert confectionery, not food.

Activia Flavoured Yoghurt (Danone)

France · Danone

Gluten-free 12-16g sugar/100g, modified corn starch, glucose syrup, artificial fruit preparations. "Gut health" marketing disguises a high-sugar dessert product. The probiotic diversity is less impressive than genuine kefir alternatives.

Beyond Meat / Impossible Foods

USA · Corporate Plant-Based

Gluten-free Very high UPF (NOVA 4). Contains methylcellulose (wood pulp derivative), multiple modified starches, refined coconut oil, numerous stabilisers. While lower in saturated fat than beef, the processing complexity rivals any other food category.

Laughing Cow / Dairylea / Cheese Singles

Various Corporate

Gluten-free Cannot legally be labelled "cheese" in many EU jurisdictions — "cheese product" is more accurate. Emulsifying salts, modified starch, whey powder, various additives. Very high UPF. Avoid entirely as a cheese substitute.

Flora / Utterly Butterly / Clover margarine

Various · Spreads

Gluten-free Rapeseed/palm oil blends, emulsifiers (E471), modified starches, artificial vitamins, flavourings to mimic butter. The margarine-heart health relationship has been significantly revised in nutrition science. Real butter in moderation is now generally preferred by nutritionists.

Chicago Town / Captain's Table Pizza

Corporate · Frozen

Gluten-free Modified starch, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, dextrose, artificial cheese, numerous emulsifiers. Very high UPF. One of the most heavily processed frozen meals available in UK supermarkets.

Birds Eye Ready Meals (standard range)

UK · Nomad Foods

Gluten-free Sodium overload, stabilisers throughout, modified starches, and preservatives in most products. NOVA 4 UPF. Not recommended as a regular meal. Frozen vegetables from Birds Eye are fine — the ready meal range is the concern.

Coca-Cola / Pepsi / Lucozade Energy / Ribena

Corporate Big Soft Drinks

Gluten-free Full sugar: 10-12g/100ml. Diet: artificial sweeteners with ongoing gut microbiome debate. High acidity erodes tooth enamel. Lucozade designed for medical recovery — extreme glycaemic load. Ribena: primarily sugar/sweetener now. Red-flag daily beverages.

Rice-based baby cereals (ALL brands)

Category Warning

Gluten-free Rice accumulates inorganic arsenic regardless of brand. NHS guidance: do not give rice drinks to children under 5. Any rice-based baby cereal — HiPP, Heinz, Hipp, generic — carries this risk. Choose oat-based, millet, or other grain alternatives.

Mass-market protein bars (most brands)

Various

Gluten-free Consumer Reports: more than two-thirds of tested protein powders/bars exceeded safe daily lead levels. Sugar alcohols (maltitol, erythritol — digestive distress), artificial sweeteners, palm kernel oil, PGPR emulsifier prevalent throughout the category.

Pedigree / Bakers / Winalot

UK · Mars Inc.

Gluten-free Mars corporate pet food. Pedigree uses unspecified "cereals," "meat and animal derivatives," added sugar, and artificial colours (E150c). Bakers linked to veterinary concerns over artificial colourants and poor carbohydrate sources.

Standard oat milk for coeliacs (all non-Glebe Farm brands)

Category Warning · GF

Gluten-free No mainstream oat milk except Glebe Farm PureOaty carries the Crossed Grain symbol. Standard oats used throughout — Oatly, Alpro Oat, Rude Health, Minor Figures are all unsafe for confirmed coeliacs regardless of otherwise good quality.

Standard (wheat-containing) soy sauce for coeliacs

Category Warning · GF

Gluten-free Every non-tamari soy sauce contains wheat. A single tablespoon triggers a coeliac reaction. This is one of the most common sources of inadvertent gluten exposure. Use Clearspring Tamari without exception.

Standard oats without Crossed Grain symbol (for coeliacs)

Category Warning · GF

Gluten-free Flahavan's, Quaker, Scott's, Bob's Red Mill standard, and even organic oat brands without GF certification are all categorically unsafe for coeliacs due to wheat cross-contamination in the standard supply chain.

Budget supermarket GF flour (rice-only base)

Various

Gluten-free GF certified but dominated by white rice flour — highest arsenic exposure in the flour category. No organic certification. Limited flour diversity. If using GF flour daily, choose Doves Farm Freee or Glebe Farm for significantly safer nutritional profile.