Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Trader Joe's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce ultra-processed?

8.8 oz (250 g) Tikka masala sauce Sold in the United States

Pack of Trader Joe's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce

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:

  • 21 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed tikka masala sauce

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

onion, water, watermelon, tomato paste, sunflower oil, bell pepper, garlic, tamarind, ginger, salt, cilantro, chili pepper, coriander, cumin, carda, MOM, paprika oleoresin, fenugreek, turmeric, fennel, bay leaf

Additives: E160c Paprika extract

As written on the pack

ONION, WATER, GROUND WATERMELON SEEDS, TOMATO PASTE, SUNFLOWER OIL, BELL PEPPER, GARLIC, TAMARIND, GINGER, SALT, CILANTRO, CHILI PEPPER, CORIANDER, CUMIN, CARDA - MOM, PAPRIKA OLEORESIN, DRIED FENUGREEK, TURMERIC, FENNEL, BAY LEAF.

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.

2 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.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 20 tikka masala sauce

From least to most processed, this one ranks 6th. 90% of the tikka masala sauce 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 20 tikka masala sauce, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 00730624, last edited 13 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 C (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.