Is TESCO finest Sundried Tomato Pesto ultra-processed?

Red pestos Sold in the United Kingdom and France

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring

21 ingredients
2 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

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (processing marker), Sundried Tomatoes 17% (Water, Sundried Tomatoes), Tomato Purée, Water Basil 6%, Tomato Passata, Pecorino Romano Cheese (processing marker) 14.5%, Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (processing marker), Sugar (processing marker), Salt (processing marker), Pine Nuts, Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid), Garlic, Flavouring (ultra-processing marker), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Also, STORAGE Store in a cool, dry place

Additives: E270 Lactic acid , E300 Ascorbic acid

As written on the pack

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Rehydrated Sundried Tomatoes (17%) [Water, Sundried Tomatoes], Tomato Purée, Water Basil (6%), Tomato Passata, Pecorino Romano Cheese (Milk) 14.5%), Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (Milk) (3%), Sugar, Salt, Pine Nuts, Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid), Garlic, Flavouring, Antioxidant Ascorbic Acid). Allergy Advice For allergens, see ingredients in bold. Also, may contain peanuts and nuts. STORAGE Store in a cool, dry place.

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.

4 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.
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 20th. 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 5052004706377, last edited 5 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.