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Yes — Sweet Chilli Sauce is ultra-processed.
The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains modified tapioca starch, which is an industrially processed starch ingredient and explicitly considered a UPF ingredient in the NOVA framework used here. Other ingredients (water, sugar, chilli paste, garlic paste, salt, acetic acid) are minimally processed or basic culinary ingredients, but the presence of modified tapioca starch makes the overall product UPF.
Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.
Other sauces, condiments & spreads Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
All Natural Avocado Oil Mayo
Dr Wills
Not UPF
Tomato Ketchup
Heinz
Not UPF
Sojasauce
Kikkoman
Not UPF
Nutritional Yeast Flakes
Engevita
Not UPF
Tomato Ketchup BIO
Heinz
Not UPF
Salsa de Soja
Kikkoman
Not UPF
Salsa di Soia
Kikkoman
Not UPF
Geeta's Mango Chutney imp
Geeta’s Foods Ltd
Not UPF
Spreadable
Yeo Valley Organic
Not UPF
Tesco Houmous
Tesco
Not UPF
Yes — Sweet Chilli Sauce by Sainsburys is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains modified tapioca starch, which is an industrially processed starch ingredient and explicitly considered a UPF ingredient in the NOVA framework used here. Other ingredients (water, sugar, chilli paste, garlic paste, salt, acetic acid) are minimally processed or basic culinary ingredients, but the presence of modified tapioca starch makes the overall product UPF.
Nomi flags one ingredient in Sweet Chilli Sauce as an ultra-processed marker: modified tapioca starch. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.
Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Sweet Chilli Sauce by M&S Food, Marks & Spencer, Lingham's Chili Sauce by LINGHAM'S. See the healthier alternatives above for details.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made with ingredients and additives you wouldn't find in a home kitchen — such as emulsifiers, artificial flavourings, colourings and modified starches. The classification is based on the NOVA system used by researchers and dietitians worldwide.
Scan any barcode — or photograph the ingredients label — with the free Nomi app for iOS and Android. You'll get an instant ultra-processed verdict with every ingredient explained in plain English.
This page was shared from Nomi, the free app that tells you instantly whether any food is ultra-processed.
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Product information comes from public databases and Nomi's own analysis, and may contain errors. Always check the packaging. Ultra-processed classification is based on the NOVA food processing system.
