Is Trader Joe's Yellow Tadka Dal ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 22 ingredients
- No additives
Less processed spices
-
Organic No-Salt Seasoning
Kirkland Signature
21 ingredients · 1 additive
NOVA group
1
-
Organic Saigon Cinnamon Ground
Kirkland Signature
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
-
Fine ground black pepper
Costco Companies Inc.
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
-
Crushed Red Pepper
Kirkland
1 ingredient · no additives
NOVA group
1
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
water, split pigeon peas (yellow lentils), butter (processing marker) (cream, salt (processing marker)), sunflower oil (processing marker), crushed tomatoes, green chili pepper, salt (processing marker), cumin seed, dehydrated onion, curry, yeast extract (yeast, salt (processing marker)), natural flavors (ultra-processing marker), mustard seed, chili, lemon powder, turmeric, coconut
As written on the pack
WATER, SPLIT PIGEON PEAS (YELLOW LENTILS), BUTTER (CREAM [MILK], SALT), SUNFLOWER OIL, CONCENTRATED CRUSHED TOMATOES, GREEN CHILI PEPPER, SALT, CUMIN SEED, DEHYDRATED ONION, CURRY LEAVES, YEAST EXTRACT (YEAST, SALT), NATURAL FLAVORS, MUSTARD SEED, CHILI FLAKES, LEMON POWDER, TURMERIC. CONTAINS MILK. MAY CONTAIN SOY, SESAME, WHEAT, PEANUT, CASHEW, COCONUT.
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.
- Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
- Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
- Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
- Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
Among 303 spices
From least to most processed, this one ranks 212th. 36% of the spices here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 00614047, last edited 21 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.
- General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.