Yes — Tesco Mixed Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce is ultra-processed.
The product contains modified maize starch and garlic extract, which are industrially processed UPF ingredients used as thickeners/stabilizers and flavouring agents. According to NOVA, the presence of such industrial additives makes the overall product ultra-processed, even though many other ingredients (beans, tomato purée, basic seasonings) are minimally processed or culinary ingredients.
Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.
Other cupboard staples Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
Organic Baked Beans
Tesco
Not UPF
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
Yes — Tesco Mixed Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce by Tesco is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product contains modified maize starch and garlic extract, which are industrially processed UPF ingredients used as thickeners/stabilizers and flavouring agents. According to NOVA, the presence of such industrial additives makes the overall product ultra-processed, even though many other ingredients (beans, tomato purée, basic seasonings) are minimally processed or culinary ingredients.
Nomi flags 7 ingredients in Tesco Mixed Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce as ultra-processed markers: modified maize starch, basil extract, capsicum extract, garlic extract, nutmeg extract, onion extract, black pepper extract. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.
Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Biona Organic Canned Beans - Mixed - 400g by Biona Organic Mixed Beans in water, Mixed Beans by Lidl, Mixed beans in water by Aldi. See the healthier alternatives above for details.
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.
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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.