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CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE by Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE

Barcode 01847949
Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)

Yes — CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE is ultra-processed.

The ingredient list is valid. This product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains industrially processed ingredients/additives such as whey powder, whey protein concentrate, palm oil, and spice extracts, which fall into NOVA Group 4 ultra-processed foods. While many ingredients are basic culinary items (rice, chicken, spices, yogurt), the presence of these ultra-processed components is sufficient to classify the overall product as UPF.

Ingredients

4 ultra-processed markers
  • OK
    pilau rice
    Seasoned rice dish made with basmati rice, water, sunflower oil and spices (cumin, turmeric, cardamom).
  • OK
    clove
  • OK
    chicken breast
    Lean cut of chicken meat often used as a main protein.
  • OK
    onion
    A common bulb vegetable used as a base flavor in many cuisines. Crisp, pungent, sweet when cooked.
  • OK
    water
    Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
  • OK
    half cream
    Dairy cream with approximately 6% fat derived from cows' milk.
  • OK
    low fat yogurt (cow's milk)
    A reduced-fat dairy yogurt made from cows' milk with 4% fat content, used as a probiotic, dessert, or ingredient.
  • OK
    tomato purée
    A tomato-based concentrate obtained by cooking down tomatoes, commonly used as a base or seasoning in dishes.
  • OK
    rapeseed oil
    A basic culinary oil pressed from rapeseeds (Brassica napus). Used for frying, baking, and dressings. Neutral flavor.
  • OK
    garlic purée
    Pureed garlic, often used as a flavoring base.
  • OK
    sugar
    Granulated sugar derived from sugarcane or sugar beets; a basic, single-ingredient sweetener.
  • OK
    ginger purée
    A smooth paste made from ginger, used to impart ginger flavor in sauces and dishes.
  • OK
    cornflour
    Ground corn starch used as a thickening agent in cooking and baking.
  • OK
    salt
    Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
  • OK
    molasses sugar
    A sugar product mixed with molasses, often used as a brown sugar variant; considered a basic processed sugar.
  • OK
    coriander (cilantro seeds)
    Dried seeds of the coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum). Warm, citrusy flavor used ground or as whole seeds in spice blends and curries.
  • UPF
    whey powder (cow's milk)
    Dairy-derived protein powder produced by separating whey from milk; often used as a protein supplement or food ingredient; processed isolate.
  • UPF
    palm oil
    A widely used edible oil pressed from the fruit of oil palms; a basic culinary oil but highly processed in many commercial products.
  • OK
    tomato paste
    Concentrated tomato juice cooked down to a thick, concentrated concentrate used as a base or flavoring in sauces and dishes.
  • OK
    red chili
    Dried or fresh ripe red peppers used to add heat and flavor to dishes.
  • OK
    skimmed cow's milk powder
    Powdered skimmed milk obtained by removing fat from cow's milk; used as a dairy ingredient in baking, beverages, and processed foods.
  • OK
    yogurt powder (cow's milk)
    Dried powder made from fermented cow's milk, contains dairy proteins and sugars.
  • OK
    cumin seeds
    Dried seeds of the cumin plant, used as a spice with warm, earthy notes.
  • OK
    green chili
    Fresh green chili pepper, adds heat and fresh flavor; edible fruit of Capsicum species.
  • OK
    turmeric
    A bright orange-yellow root commonly used as a spice and for its active compound curcumin, with warm, earthy, slightly peppery flavor.
  • OK
    whey protein concentrate
    A protein supplement derived from cow's milk, containing protein with lactose and minerals; commonly used in foods and sports nutrition.
  • OK
    chilli powder
    Ground dried chili peppers used as a spice to add heat and flavor in dishes. It is a basic single-ingredient spice.
  • OK
    paprika
    A ground spice made from dried red peppers (Capsicum species), used for color and flavor in many cuisines.
  • OK
    fenugreek leaf
    Dried leaves of the fenugreek plant, used as an herb/spice for aroma and flavor in cooking and traditional medicine.
  • OK
    cumin
    A warm, earthy spice from the seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant, common in spice blends.
  • OK
    ginger
    A pungent, aromatic rhizome used fresh or dried in cooking and beverages.
  • OK
    black pepper
    A common spice made from dried peppercorns of the Piper nigrum plant, used to add pungent heat and aroma to dishes.
  • OK
    fennel
    A flavorful, aromatic herb with feathery leaves and a bulbous base, used as an herb or vegetable in cooking.
  • UPF
    lemon oil
    A volatile essential oil extracted from lemon peels, used as a citrus flavoring or aroma in foods.
  • OK
    bay leaf
    A dried leaf of the bay laurel tree used to impart a distinctive herbal, slightly floral aroma to soups, sauces, and braises.
  • OK
    cardamom
    A small aromatic seed (or pod) used as a spice with a strong, sweet, floral and citrusy aroma.
  • OK
    mace
    The lacy aril (red covering) of the nutmeg seed, dried and ground for a warm, aromatic, spicy flavor.
  • UPF
    spice extracts
    Concentrated flavouring derived from spices; a processed extract used to impart aroma or taste.
  • OK
    star anise
    A dried fruit of Illicium verum, used whole or ground as a spice and flavoring.

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Other meat & poultry Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.

Common questions about CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE

Is CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE ultra-processed?

Yes — CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE by Sainsbury's is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The ingredient list is valid. This product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains industrially processed ingredients/additives such as whey powder, whey protein concentrate, palm oil, and spice extracts, which fall into NOVA Group 4 ultra-processed foods. While many ingredients are basic culinary items (rice, chicken, spices, yogurt), the presence of these ultra-processed components is sufficient to classify the overall product as UPF.

Which ingredients in CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 4 ingredients in CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH RICE as ultra-processed markers: whey powder (cow's milk), palm oil, lemon oil, spice extracts. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.

What does "ultra-processed" (UPF) mean?

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.

How can I check whether other foods are ultra-processed?

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.

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