Sharwood's

Balti Cooking Sauce

Barcode 5000197156912

Scanned 14 times by Nomi users

Yes — Balti Cooking Sauce is ultra-processed.

The ingredient list is valid. The product is classified as ultra-processed (UPF) because it contains modified maize starch, which is an industrially processed additive used as a thickener/stabilizer and is explicitly considered a UPF ingredient under NOVA. Other ingredients like rapeseed oil, sugar, lactic acid, and vegetable purées are allowed and do not on their own make the product UPF, but the presence of modified maize starch is sufficient for UPF classification.

Ingredients

2 ultra-processed markers

OK

tomatoes

Fresh or ripe tomato fruit, commonly used as a base in sauces and salads.
OK

water

Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
OK

tomato purée (9%)
OK

fried onions (9%) (onion)
OK

rapeseed oil

A basic culinary oil pressed from rapeseeds (Brassica napus). Used for frying, baking, and dressings. Neutral flavor.
OK

onion (6%)

Onion as a vegetable ingredient, often used for flavor; the percentage indicates its share in a blend.
OK

ginger purée

A smooth paste made from ginger, used to impart ginger flavor in sauces and dishes.
OK

green pepper

Green bell pepper, a fresh vegetable used for adding crunch and sweetness.
OK

red pepper (bell pepper)

A sweet, crisp red bell pepper pick or fresh pepper used for color, flavor, and nutrition; typically eaten raw or cooked.
OK

spices

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

sugar

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

modified maize starch

A processed starch, often used as a thickener or binding agent in foods; may be treated to modify properties.
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.
OK

garlic purée

Pureed garlic, often used as a flavoring base.
OK

salt

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

ghee (milk)
UPF

lactic acid

A naturally occurring organic acid used as a acidity regulator and preservative in foods; often added as E270 to adjust pH and inhibit microbial growth.

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Common questions about Balti Cooking Sauce

Is Balti Cooking Sauce ultra-processed?

Yes — Balti Cooking Sauce by Sharwood's is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The ingredient list is valid. The product is classified as ultra-processed (UPF) because it contains modified maize starch, which is an industrially processed additive used as a thickener/stabilizer and is explicitly considered a UPF ingredient under NOVA. Other ingredients like rapeseed oil, sugar, lactic acid, and vegetable purées are allowed and do not on their own make the product UPF, but the presence of modified maize starch is sufficient for UPF classification.

Which ingredients in Balti Cooking Sauce are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 2 ingredients in Balti Cooking Sauce as ultra-processed markers: modified maize starch, lactic acid. 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.

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.