No — Chicken Tikka Masala is not ultra-processed.
The ingredient list consists entirely of basic culinary ingredients and traditional preparations (meat, dairy, coconut milk, oils, herbs, spices, flours, sugar, natural color paprika extract). There are no industrial additives such as emulsifiers, thickeners (beyond basic cornflour), flavor enhancers, artificial sweeteners, or industrially refined syrups. Therefore, according to the given NOVA-based rules, this is not classified as an ultra-processed food (UPF).
Other ready meals products Nomi has analysed ingredient by ingredient.
Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder
Sainsbury's
UPF
Wagyu burgers
Finnebrogue
UPF
Ham mashroom and mascarpone wood fired pizza
Tesco Finest
UPF
Stagg Classic Chilli Con Carne
Hormel Foods Corporation
UPF
Chicken katsu curry
Wasabi
UPF
Cottage pie
Charlie Bigham's
UPF
Meatballs al forno
Charlie Bighams
Not UPF
Chicken Arrabbiata
Marks & Spencer
Not UPF
Chicken Shawarma
M&S
Not UPF
No — Chicken Tikka Masala by M&S Our Best Ever is not ultra-processed, so it is not a UPF (ultra-processed food). The ingredient list consists entirely of basic culinary ingredients and traditional preparations (meat, dairy, coconut milk, oils, herbs, spices, flours, sugar, natural color paprika extract). There are no industrial additives such as emulsifiers, thickeners (beyond basic cornflour), flavor enhancers, artificial sweeteners, or industrially refined syrups. Therefore, according to the given NOVA-based rules, this is not classified as an ultra-processed food (UPF).
Nomi flags one ingredient in Chicken Tikka Masala as an ultra-processed marker: paprika extract. 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.
This page was shared from Nomi, the free app that tells you instantly whether any food is ultra-processed.
Free download · No subscription needed to start scanning


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.