Is Marks & Spencer M&s -Food- Tikka Paste ultra-processed?

180g Curry pastes 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:

E160c Paprika extract

15 ingredients
1 additive
Nutri-Score C

Less processed curry pastes

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 Purée, Tomatoes 10%, Spices 10% (Cumin, Coriander Chilli Powder Cardamom, Turmeric Nutmeg, Fenugreek Black Pepper), Water Coriander Leaf 4.5%, Carlic Purée Ginger Purée Sugar Rapeseed Oil Salt Cornflour Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid Onion Stock (Concentrated Onion Juice Water jar (459), Yeast Extract Salt Toasted Dried Onions Sugar Onion Extract), Dried Fenugreek Leaf Colour), Paprika Extract (ultra-processing marker)

Additives: E160c Paprika extract

As written on the pack

Tomato Purée. Tomatoes (10%) Ground Spices (10%) (Cumin - Coriander Chilli Powder Cardamom. Turmeric Nutmeg. Fenugreek Black Pepper) Water Coriander Leaf (4.5%). Carlic Purée Ginger Purée Sugar Rapeseed Oil Salt Cornflour Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid Onion Stock (Concentrated Onion Juice Water jar (459) Yeast Extract Salt Toasted Dried Onions Sugar Onion Extract) Dried Fenugreek Leaf Colour: Paprika Extract

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.

E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 77 curry pastes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 48th. 43% of the curry pastes 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 77 curry pastes, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 29181216, 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.
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.