Tesco

Balti Cooking Sauce

Barcode 5050179081091

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 because it contains modified maize starch, which is an industrially processed thickener/additive considered UPF under NOVA. Other ingredients are mostly whole foods or basic culinary additives, but the presence of modified maize starch is sufficient to classify the whole product as UPF.

Ingredients

2 ultra-processed markers

OK

water

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

tomato (21%)
OK

onion (15%)
OK

tomato puree (12%)
UPF

modified maize starch

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

green pepper (2.5%)
OK

red pepper (2.5%)
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

lemon juice from concentrate

Lemon juice that has been concentrated and often reconstituted for liquid use in cooking and beverages.
OK

sugar

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

rapeseed oil

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

salt

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

ground coriander

A spice ground from the dried seeds of Coriandrum sativum. Bright, citrusy, warm flavor widely used in spice blends and curries.
OK

ground cumin

A spice made from dried, ground seeds of Cuminum cyminum. Warm, earthy, slightly citrusy flavor commonly used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines.
OK

fenugreek (ground)

Ground seeds of the fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum), used as a spice with a warm, slightly bitter, nutty flavor and a hint of maple-like sweetness.
OK

garlic puree

A simple mashed garlic cloves, sometimes with a small amount of oil or salt; used as a flavoring or base ingredient.
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.
OK

ground ginger

Powdered ginger root used as a spice and flavoring.
OK

rice flour

A finely milled flour from milled rice, commonly used as a gluten-free thickener or flour substitute in baking and cooking.
OK

mustard powder

Ground mustard seeds, used as a spice and flavoring.
OK

ground fennel

Finely ground fennel seeds, a common spice used for flavoring and digestive aid.
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

turmeric (ground)

A common spice made by grinding the orange-yellow rhizomes of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). It has a warm, bitter, peppery flavor and is widely used in curry powders and mustard blends. Turmeric is known for its vibrant color due to curcumin.
OK

ground cardamom

Ground cardamom is the finely crushed form of whole cardamom pods, offering warm, sweet, and spicy notes.
OK

paprika

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

dried chilli
OK

garlic powder

Dried, ground garlic used as a convenient, concentrated form of garlic flavoring in cooking.
OK

ground cassia

A ground form of cassia (cinnamon) spice, used as a culinary spice with warm, sweet notes.
OK

ground bay leaves
OK

ground nutmeg

Ground form of nutmeg, a warm aromatic spice often used in baking and cooking.
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

ground cloves

Ground cloves are the finely milled powder of the dried flower buds of the clove tree. They are a common spice used in both sweet and savory dishes, offering warm, aromatic, and slightly bitter notes.
OK

onion powder

Dried and ground onion used as a seasoning to impart onion flavor.

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Common questions about Balti Cooking Sauce

Is Balti Cooking Sauce ultra-processed?

Yes — Balti Cooking Sauce by Tesco is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The ingredient list is valid. The product is classified as ultra-processed because it contains modified maize starch, which is an industrially processed thickener/additive considered UPF under NOVA. Other ingredients are mostly whole foods or basic culinary additives, but the presence of modified maize starch is sufficient to classify the whole product as UPF.

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.