Nomi
UPF Food Scanner
Know what’s really in your food
Get the free app
Beef curry by Tesco
Tesco

Beef curry

Barcode 5057753911638
Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)

Yes — Beef curry is ultra-processed.

The curry contains modified maize starch, which is an industrially processed starch additive. According to NOVA, the presence of such additives used to modify texture or stability makes the product ultra-processed.

Ingredients

2 ultra-processed markers
  • OK
    beef (35%)
    Part of a meat mix; cooked beef from the animal muscle.
  • OK
    tomato purée
    A tomato-based concentrate obtained by cooking down tomatoes, commonly used as a base or seasoning in dishes.
  • OK
    onion (18%)
    Common bulb vegetable used for flavor and aroma.
  • OK
    onion purée with oil and beef dripping
    Puréed onion with added oil and beef dripping fat; a savory base or spread.
  • UPF
    modified maize starch
    A processed starch, often used as a thickener or binding agent in foods; may be treated to modify properties.
  • OK
    garlic powder coriander powder
    A blend of garlic powder with coriander powder, used as a seasoning.
  • OK
    cumin powder
    Ground seeds of Cuminum cyminum, a warm, earthy spice used in various cuisines.
  • OK
    turmeric powder sett flakes
    A spice blend containing turmeric powder and salt flakes (likely).
  • OK
    lemon juice concentrate
    Lemon juice that has been concentrated by removing water; used as a souring agent or flavoring in foods.
  • OK
    ginger powder
    Ground dried ginger root, a common spice and flavoring. Not UPF as a basic spice/ingredient.
  • OK
    water paprika
    Paprika typically used as a spice; combined with water in this context may indicate a liquid seasoning.
  • OK
    maize starch
    Fine white powder obtained from corn; used as a thickener in sauces and soups.
  • OK
    cardamom
    A small aromatic seed (or pod) used as a spice with a strong, sweet, floral and citrusy aroma.
  • OK
    coriander seed
    Dried seeds of Coriandrum sativum, aromatic with warm, citrusy notes; commonly used whole or ground in many cuisines.
  • OK
    fennel seed and white pepper (blend)
    A blend of fennel seeds and white pepper, used to add fragrance (fennel) and mild pungency (white pepper) to dishes.
  • OK
    cinnamon
    A sweet-spicy bark spice with warm, woody notes often used in baking and savory dishes.
  • 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
    cumin seed and clove powder (blend)
    A powder blend of ground cumin seeds and cloves used for warming, spicy notes in spice mixes.
  • 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
    nutmeg
    A fragrant spice ground from the seeds of the Myristica fragrans tree, used to flavor sweet and savory dishes in small amounts.
  • OK
    fenugreek seed
    Small, dried seeds of the fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum), used as a spice with a slightly bitter, maple-like aroma.
  • UPF
    cinnamon powder and colour (paprika extract)
    A flavoring/coloring ingredient combining ground cinnamon and paprika extract as a colorant/flavor additive.
  • OK
    caraway seed
    Dried seeds of Carum carvi, used as a spice or seasoning.

Swap it for something less processed

See all Meat & Poultry →

Other meat & poultry Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.

Common questions about Beef curry

Is Beef curry ultra-processed?

Yes — Beef curry by Tesco is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The curry contains modified maize starch, which is an industrially processed starch additive. According to NOVA, the presence of such additives used to modify texture or stability makes the product ultra-processed.

Which ingredients in Beef curry are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 2 ingredients in Beef curry as ultra-processed markers: modified maize starch, cinnamon powder and colour (paprika extract). 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.

BBC As seen on The One Show

Scan it yourself,
right in the aisle

This page was shared from Nomi, the free app that tells you instantly whether any food is ultra-processed.

  • Scan any barcode — or photograph the ingredients label
  • Every ingredient explained in plain English
  • Daily check-ins show how food affects how you feel
  • Save favourites and build a healthier shopping list

Free download · No subscription needed to start scanning

Nomi monthly wellbeing report
Nomi scan result screen

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.

Nomi — UPF Scanner Free on iOS & Android
Get the app