Nomi
UPF Food Scanner
Know what’s really in your food
Get the free app
Yes — Pilchards is ultra-processed.
Classified as ultra-processed because the tomato sauce contains guar gum (a stabilizer/thickener) and corn starch used as a processing aid, which are industrial additives under NOVA. These move the product from minimally processed/processed to ultra-processed.
Other cupboard staples Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
Italian Tomato Purée Double Concentrate
Sainsbury's,by sainsbury's
Not UPF
Baked Beans in tomato sauce
Sainsbury’s Organic
Not UPF
Beanz In a Rich Tomato Sauce, Organic
Heinz
Not UPF
Baked beans in tomato sauce
Waitrose
Not UPF
Red Kidney Beans in water
Sainsbury's
Not UPF
Chicken stock
Sainsbury's inspired to cook
Not UPF
Borlotti beans in water
By sainsbury's
Not UPF
Red kidney beans in water
Essential Waitrose & Partners
Not UPF
Cream of Tomato
Baxters
Not UPF
Garlic Passata Rustica
Aldi, Specially Selected
Not UPF
Yes — Pilchards by Glenryck is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). Classified as ultra-processed because the tomato sauce contains guar gum (a stabilizer/thickener) and corn starch used as a processing aid, which are industrial additives under NOVA. These move the product from minimally processed/processed to ultra-processed.
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.