I reviewed the M&S Only… Ingredients range and one item was worth every penny

Marks and Spencer has launched a new ‘Only…Ingredients’ range which lists every ingredient on the packaging. We tested seven products from the clean-label range to see which are worth buying

I tried a few different foods from the Only…Ingredients range and I was impressed(Image: Niamh Kirk)

The days of carelessly devouring a kebab without a second thought about nutrition seem to be behind us. Nowadays, concerns about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), palm oil and additives dominating our diets are increasingly prevalent.

I’ll confess, I never used to pay much attention to my food choices, but with age comes a growing awareness of what I’m putting into my body. Yet navigating the world of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals required for a ‘healthy’ lifestyle can feel overwhelming – whatever happened to simply enjoying a sandwich and getting on with your day?

It’s become more like solving a mathematical equation, calculating grams per bite rather than savouring a meal.

However, Marks and Spencer may have found the solution, helping shoppers understand exactly what they’re consuming by returning food to its fundamentals. The retailer’s new ‘Only…Ingredients’ range provides customers with complete transparency about their food’s contents, listing every component – all of which appear refreshingly straightforward.

M&S is targeting consumers who are anxious about what’s in their meals, or those like myself who are simply seeking healthier alternatives. The retailer has prominently displayed the minimal ingredients for each product directly on the front of the packaging.

The new range details all of the ingredients on the front of the packaging(Image: Niamh Kirk)

The debate surrounding ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been intensifying across social media platforms, with TikTok users repeatedly highlighting their potential dangers. These products have been strongly associated with numerous serious health concerns, including increased risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and premature death.

This information alone prompted me to reconsider my food choices, which is precisely why Marks & Spencer’s Only…Ingredients range caught my attention. However, I was curious whether removing all those additional ingredients would actually affect the flavour. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter

The retailer has expanded the range, now stocking various meats, breads and cereals, alongside condiments, giving health-conscious consumers greater transparency about what they’re eating. With meatballs containing just three ingredients – beef, sea salt and black pepper – or bread rolls made solely from multi-flour, water, sourdough culture, yeast and salt, it appears almost too good to be true.

Here’s what I discovered….

Olive Oil Mayonnaise and Tomato Ketchup

The ketchup certainly delivered a robust, tomato-rich taste, though it was rather acidic. It comprises eight ingredients – tomato puree, agave syrup, water, vinegar, salt and ground spices.

Whilst it was clearly distinguishable from Heinz, I was generally quite impressed, despite its somewhat vinegary finish. Regarding the mayonnaise, whilst it was decent, the saltiness was quite pronounced.

It delivered an authentic mayonnaise flavour, though it wouldn’t be my first choice in future. The product contains six ingredients: olive oil, egg yolk, white wine vinegar, water, sea salt and dried mustard.

British beef meatballs

With a straightforward ingredient list of beef, sea salt and black pepper, these meatballs lived up to expectations in terms of meatiness. Often, meatballs can be laden with fillers and additives, leaving you uncertain about the actual meat content.

However, these contain 295.9g of beef in a pack of 12.

They were genuinely delicious, with a noticeable peppery kick, and I’d happily purchase them again without hesitation.

British beef burgers

These were undoubtedly the standout product from everything sampled. Like the meatballs, they feature just three ingredients: beef, sea salt and black pepper.

The texture was remarkably smooth, almost velvety, with a wonderful beefy flavour. Once cooked, they remained succulent and flavoursome, making them incredibly satisfying – precisely what you want from a burger.

The patties are notably thick – absolute perfection.

Heritage gold pork sausages Much like the burgers, these sausages were notably thick and succulent. They’re made with just six ingredients: pork, water, sage, black pepper, sea salt, and natural pork casing.

Whilst sausages have historically been criticised for their low meat content, these M&S ones boast 368g of pork across the six sausages, which appears quite substantial.

Unfortunately, these didn’t quite live up to the high standards set by the rest of the range. The flavour was somewhat underwhelming, and the casing proved rather chewy, making them difficult to bite through.

Bread rolls

I’ve been making more conscious decisions regarding bread lately, and these rolls contain just five ingredients: multi-flour, water, sourdough culture, yeast and salt. As a fan of M&S bread, I was eager to sample these, and they proved wonderfully soft and light.

Despite their straightforward ingredient list, they matched the quality of any standard bread rolls.

Bran flakes

Looking to increase my fibre consumption, I chose bran flakes as a convenient solution. Whilst I haven’t sampled other brands for comparison, these M&S ones are rather good.

The ingredient list is minimal: wholegrain wheat, barley malt extract and sea salt. They’re pleasantly crisp, with each flake being quite substantial, making them satisfyingly filling.

They also maintain their texture in milk, which suits leisurely breakfast eaters like myself. Overall, I must admit I was quite taken with this Only…Ingredients range, demonstrating that you don’t have to sacrifice flavour when cutting down on ingredients.

I believe it’s a fantastic method for consumers to become more conscious of what they’re eating, and it also subliminally gives the impression of clean eating by knowing precisely what’s in your food.