Is it ultra-processed?
Menu

Is Aldi Tomato & Chilli Pasta Sauce ultra-processed?

Tomato sauces Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Aldi Tomato & Chilli Pasta Sauce

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:

  • 23 ingredients
  • 2 additives
  • Nutri-Score A

Less processed tomato sauces

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

tomato 48%, cherry tomato, tomato purée extra virgin olive oil, red peppers 4%, onions, celery, basil 1.5%, sugar, red pepper 0.5%, garlic, oregano, parsley, garlic purée, chilli, salt, acidity regulator (lactic acid), firming agent (calcium chloride), flavourings, preservatives, best before end (see lid)

Additives: E270 Lactic acid , E509 Calcium chloride

As written on the pack

tomato (48%), cherry tomato, (20%), tomato purée extra virgin olive oil, red peppers (4%), onions, celery, basil (1,5%), sugar, red pepper powder (0,5%), garlic powder, oregano leaves, parsley, garlic purée, chilli flakes, salt, acidity regulator: lactic acid, firming agent: calcium chloride, allergy advice: for allergens, see ingredients in bold, dietary advice: suitable for vegetarians, no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives, best before end: see lid,

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.

  • Firming agent Firming agents keep fruit and vegetable tissue crisp or firm through processing and storage.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
3 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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 444 tomato sauces

From least to most processed, this one ranks 405th. 40% of the tomato sauces 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 444 tomato sauces, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4088600054445, 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 A (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.