Is Asda Red Pesto ultra-processed?

190 g Red pestos Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
Hydrogenated fat

33 ingredients
4 additives
Nutri-Score D

Less processed red pestos

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

Sunflower Oil (processing marker), Sun-dried Tomatoes 20% (Sun-dried Tomatoes, Water, Salt (processing marker), Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)), Double Tomato Concentrate 15%, Tomat Pulp 12%, Water, Basil 6%, Grana Padano Cheese (processing marker) 5% (Cheese Chasteurised Milk, using Calf's Rennet, Preservative (processing marker) (Egg Lysozyme)), Red Peppers 4%, Pecorino Romano Cheese (processing marker) (Ewe's Milk, using Lamb's Rennet), Cashew Nut, Sugar (processing marker), Pine Nuts, Salt (processing marker), Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid), Garlic, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), flavours (ultra-processing marker), hydrogenated fat (ultra-processing marker), HOW TO PREPARE Stir the contents of the jar into hot pasta, NUTRITION We suggest this product provides 4 servings Typical Values Per Energy k Energy kal Fat 100g 248

Additives: E1105 Lysozyme , E270 Lactic acid , E300 Ascorbic acid , E330 Citric acid

As written on the pack

Sunflower Oil, Rehydrated Sun-dried Tomatoes (20%) [Sun-dried Tomatoes, Water, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)], Double Tomato Concentrate (15%), Tomat Pulp (12%), Water, Basil (6%), Grana Padano Cheese (5%) [Cheese Chasteurised Milk, using Calf's Rennet), Preservative (Egg Lysozyme)]. Red Peppers (4%), Pecorino Romano Cheese (Unpasteurised Ewe's Milk, using Lamb's Rennet) (1%), Cashew Nut Flour, Sugar, Pine Nuts, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid), Garlic Powder, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid). Allergy Advice! for allergens, see ingredients in bold. May also contain traces of other nuts, peanuts and sesame seeds. NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURS, FLAVOURS OR HYDROGENATED FAT. HOW TO PREPARE Stir the contents of the jar into hot pasta. NUTRITION We suggest this product provides 4 servings Typical Values Per Energy k Energy kal Fat 100g 248

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.

Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Hydrogenated fat An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.

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.

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

From least to most processed, this one ranks 26th. 42% of the red pestos 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 26 red pestos, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5050854467349, last edited 30 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 D (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.