Is it ultra-processed?
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Is By Sainsbury's Basil Pesto ultra-processed?

Green pestos Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of By Sainsbury's Basil Pesto

It's processed, but not ultra-processed

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

Whole foods combined with:

  • 12 ingredients
  • No additives

Less processed 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

Basil 24%, Pecorino Medium Fat Hard Cheese (Sheep's Milk), Extra Virgin Olive Oil 15%, Rapeseed Oil, Lemon Juice, Medium Fat Hard Cheese (Cows' Milk), Pine Nuts 5%, Garlic Purée, Salt, Potato Starch

As written on the pack

Basil (24%), Pecorino Medium Fat Hard Cheese (Sheep's Milk), Extra Virgin Olive Oil (15%), Rapeseed Oil, Lemon Juice, Medium Fat Hard Cheese (Cows' Milk), Pine Nuts (5%), Garlic Purée, Salt, Potato Starch.

What makes it processed

Processed ingredients

Processed foods in their own right, such as cheese or milk powder.

  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

Culinary ingredients

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

  • 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 79 green pestos

From least to most processed, this one ranks 11th. 49% of the green 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 79 green pestos, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 00474474, 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.