Tomato Meatball Sauce

Barcode 29472291

No — Tomato Meatball Sauce is not ultra-processed.

Ingredients are basic culinary components (tomatoes, cooked beef meatballs, herbs, spices, vegetable stock, vinegars, flours, sugar) and vitamin/mineral fortification. No industrial additives like emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, modified starches, or industrial syrups are present, so this is not classified as ultra-processed under NOVA.

Ingredients

No ultra-processed markers

OK

tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes, edible fruit often used as a vegetable in salads, sauces, and cooking.
OK

cooked meatballs (25%) (beef

Processed meatballs made from beef, possibly with added seasonings, sauces, or breading. Typically used as ready-to-eat or prepared meat products.
OK

salt

Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
OK

wheat flour

Finely ground cereal flour from wheat; a fundamental baking ingredient.
OK

dried garlic

Dehydrated garlic cloves ground or whole, used as a pungent seasoning with long shelf life.
OK

dried oregano

A dried herb from the oregano plant (Origanum vulgare). Offers pungent, warm, slightly bitter flavors and is widely used in Italian and Greek cooking.
OK

parsley

A fresh green herb used to flavor and garnish dishes; commonly added chopped leaves.
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

onion

A common bulb vegetable used as a base flavor in many cuisines. Crisp, pungent, sweet when cooked.
OK

red peppers

Fresh bell peppers; sweet, crunchy vegetables used as a vegetable. Ready-to-eat raw ingredient.
OK

dried red peppers

Dried peppers used as a spice or ingredient to add flavor and color. They are dehydrated vegetables.
OK

sugar

Granulated sugar derived from sugarcane or sugar beets; a basic, single-ingredient sweetener.
OK

garlic purée

Pureed garlic, often used as a flavoring base.
OK

vegetable stock

Liquid or powder made from vegetables simmered to extract flavor, used as a base for soups and sauces. May be packaged as a powder or cubic stock.
OK

dried mixed herbs

A dried blend of various dried culinary herbs used to season dishes. Typically contains oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, sage, etc.
OK

red wine vinegar

A vinegar produced by fermenting red wine with acetic acid bacteria, used as a tangy condiment and cooking acid.
OK

basil

A leafy herb with a sweet, peppery aroma used fresh or dried to season sauces, pizzas, and Mediterranean dishes.
OK

tomato purée

A tomato-based concentrate obtained by cooking down tomatoes, commonly used as a base or seasoning in dishes.
OK

tomato paste / tomato concentrate

A concentrated tomato product, usually made by cooking down tomatoes to a thick paste used to enrich flavor and texture in sauces and soups.
OK

dried pepper

Dried form of hot or sweet peppers (bell peppers, chili peppers). Used whole or crushed to add heat and flavor.
OK

carrot purée

Pureed carrot, a smooth carrot puree used as a base or ingredient.
OK

spices

diverse plant extracts used to flavor foods; can refer to a mix of single or blended seasonings.
OK

paprika

A ground spice made from dried red peppers (Capsicum species), used for color and flavor in many cuisines.
OK

chili pepper

A small, hot fruit of the Capsicum plant used to add heat and flavor to dishes.
OK

iron

Essential mineral used as a nutrient or fortifying ingredient in foods.

Common questions about Tomato Meatball Sauce

Is Tomato Meatball Sauce ultra-processed?

No — Tomato Meatball Sauce is not ultra-processed, so it is not a UPF (ultra-processed food). Ingredients are basic culinary components (tomatoes, cooked beef meatballs, herbs, spices, vegetable stock, vinegars, flours, sugar) and vitamin/mineral fortification. No industrial additives like emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers, modified starches, or industrial syrups are present, so this is not classified as ultra-processed under NOVA.

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.

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.