Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Aldi Pesto pasta style ultra-processed?

200g Pasta dishes Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Aldi Pesto pasta style

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 25 ingredients
  • 3 additives
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed pasta dishes

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Water, penne pasta 28% (Durum Wheat Semolina, Egg White), pesto style sauce 16% (Basil, Sunflower Oil, Hard Cheese, Water, Olive Oil, Cassava Starch, Salt, Garlic, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Potato Starch), Stabilised Low Fat Crème Fraîche (Stabilisers (Carrageenan), Pectins, Crème Fraîche, Starch, Emulsifier (mono- and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids)), Rice Starch, Salt

Additives: E407 Carrageenan , E440 Pectins , E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

Water, PENNE PASTA (28%) (Durum Wheat Semolina, Egg White), PESTO STYLE SAUCE (16%) (Basil, Sunflower Oil, Grated Hard Cheese (Milk), Water, Olive Oil, Cassava Starch, Salt, Garlic, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Potato Starch), Stabilised Low Fat Crème Fraîche (Stabilisers: Carrageenan, Pectins; Low Fat Crème Fraîche (Milk), Starch, Emulsifier: Mono - and Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Mono - and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Rice Starch, Salt.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E407 Carrageenan Carrageenan is a thickener and gelling agent extracted from red seaweed, used widely in dairy desserts, plant-based drinks and processed meats.
  • E440 Pectins Pectins are gelling agents extracted from citrus peel or apple pomace.
  • E472e Mono- and diacetyltartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
5 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 543 pasta dishes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 415th. 73% of the pasta dishes here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 543 pasta dishes, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4088600462905, last edited 27 March 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of C (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.