Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Plant Menu Sundried Tomatoe Pesto ultra-processed?

Pestos Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Plant Menu Sundried Tomatoe 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
  • 2 additives

Less processed 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, Water, tomato puree 15%, sun-dried tomatoes 7% (Tomatoes, Salt), basil 6%, tofu 6% (Soya Beans, Water, Firming Agent (Magnesium Chloride)), red peppers 4%, Sugar, pine nuts 1.5%, Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid), Garlic Powder

Additives: E270 Lactic acid , E511 Magnesium chloride

As written on the pack

Sunflower Oil, Water, TOMATO PUREE (15%), SUN-DRIED TOMATOES (7%) (Tomatoes, Salt), BASIL (6%), TOFU (6%) (Soya Beans, Water, Firming Agent: Magnesium Chloride), RED PEPPERS (4%), Sugar, PINE NUTS (1.5%), Acidity Regulator: Lactic Acid; Garlic Powder.

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.
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 134 pestos

From least to most processed, this one ranks 91st. 51% of the 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 134 pestos, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 4061459071788, 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.