Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Plant Menu Basil Pesto ultra-processed?

Green pestos Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Plant Menu Basil Pesto

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:

  • 18 ingredients
  • 3 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed green 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

basil 38%, Sunflower Oil, Water, tofu 5% (Soya Beans, Water, Firming Agent (Magnesium Chloride)), cashew nuts 5%, pine nuts 2%, Potato Flakes (Potato, Emulsifier (mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids)), Sugar, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Lactic acid)

Additives: E270 Lactic acid , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E511 Magnesium chloride

As written on the pack

BASIL (38%), Sunflower Oil, Water, TOFU (5%) (Soya Beans, Water, Firming Agent: Magnesium Chloride), CASHEW NUTS (5%), PINE NUTS (2%), Potato Flakes (Dried Potato, Emulsifier: Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Sugar, Salt, Acidity Regulator Lactic acid. May also contain almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts and peanuts.

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.

  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • Emulsifier Emulsifiers keep fat and water from separating, giving products a smooth, stable texture over a long shelf life.
  • Firming agent Firming agents keep fruit and vegetable tissue crisp or firm through processing and storage.
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.

  • 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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 79 green pestos

From least to most processed, this one ranks 74th. 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 4061459071863, last edited 28 July 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.