No — Chicken Tikka Masala is not ultra-processed.
All listed ingredients are basic foods or culinary ingredients (rice, spices, yogurt, cream, tomato paste, sugar, oils, nuts, butter, herbs). There are no industrially processed isolates or additives such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, or industrial syrups. Therefore, it is not classified as ultra-processed under the given NOVA-style criteria.
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Beef Chilli Con Carne
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Breaded Chicken Nuggets
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Chicken Jalfrezi
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Deep Filled Steak Shortcrust Pastry Pie
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Dynamite Chili Con Carne
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Gressingham Aromatic Half Crispy Duck
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No — Chicken Tikka Masala by Sainsbury's is not ultra-processed, so it is not a UPF (ultra-processed food). All listed ingredients are basic foods or culinary ingredients (rice, spices, yogurt, cream, tomato paste, sugar, oils, nuts, butter, herbs). There are no industrially processed isolates or additives such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, or industrial syrups. Therefore, it is not classified as ultra-processed under the given NOVA-style criteria.
Nomi flags one ingredient in Chicken Tikka Masala as an ultra-processed marker: color paprika extract: bay leaf. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.
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.
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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.