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Chicken Tikka Masala by The Gym Kitchen
The Gym Kitchen

Chicken Tikka Masala

Barcode 5060084348325
Scanned  19  times by Nomi users
Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)

Yes — Chicken Tikka Masala is ultra-processed.

The product is classified as UPF because it contains several ultra-processed ingredients and additives, including modified maize starch (a chemically modified starch used as a thickener/stabilizer), acidity regulator (citric acid), and colour (paprika extract). It also contains palm oil in the marinated chicken pieces, which is a highly refined oil. According to NOVA, the presence of such industrial additives and refined ingredients places this product in the ultra-processed food category, even though many of the other ingredients are minimally processed or culinary ingredients.

Ingredients

3 ultra-processed markers
  • OK
    sauce (tomato, water, onion, semi-skimmed milk)
  • OK
    low fat yoghurt (milk)
    A dairy product made by fermenting milk with yogurt cultures; typically lower fat content than full-fat yogurt.
  • OK
    carrot
    A root vegetable used widely in cooking for sweetness, texture, and color.
  • OK
    garlic purée
    Pureed garlic, often used as a flavoring base.
  • OK
    ginger purée
    A smooth paste made from ginger, used to impart ginger flavor in sauces and dishes.
  • UPF
    modified maize starch
    A processed starch, often used as a thickener or binding agent in foods; may be treated to modify properties.
  • OK
    sugar
    Granulated sugar derived from sugarcane or sugar beets; a basic, single-ingredient sweetener.
  • OK
    tomato purée
    A tomato-based concentrate obtained by cooking down tomatoes, commonly used as a base or seasoning in dishes.
  • OK
    cumin
    A warm, earthy spice from the seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant, common in spice blends.
  • 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
    lime juice
    Juice extracted from limes; a basic culinary ingredient used for acidity and flavor.
  • OK
    rapeseed oil
    A basic culinary oil pressed from rapeseeds (Brassica napus). Used for frying, baking, and dressings. Neutral flavor.
  • OK
    tandoori masala seasoning (paprika, salt, coriander, turmeric, chilli powder, cumin cinnamon, ground clove)
  • OK
    citric acid
    A natural organic acid used to balance acidity and preserve foods; a common food additive.
  • UPF
    lemon oil
    A volatile essential oil extracted from lemon peels, used as a citrus flavoring or aroma in foods.
  • 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 bay leaf
    Dried ground leaves of the bay laurel used as a spice or flavoring in soups, stews, and sauces.
  • UPF
    colour (paprika extract)
    Natural color additive derived from paprika used to impart a red-orange hue in foods.
  • 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
    salt
    Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
  • OK
    garam masala blend (coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, fennel, chilli powder, paprika, cardamom, clove, cumin, ground bay leaf, spice extracts, turmeric)
  • OK
    fenugreek leaf
    Dried leaves of the fenugreek plant, used as an herb/spice for aroma and flavor in cooking and traditional medicine.
  • 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
    rice mix (22%) (brown rice, lentils, spinach, water, onion, cumin seeds)
  • OK
    cooked marinated chicken pieces (20%) (chicken, tomato paste, ginger, corn starch, garlic, palm oil)
  • OK
    yogurt powder (milk)
    Powdered yogurt product made from milk, typically produced by fermenting milk and spray drying.
  • OK
    green chili
    Fresh green chili pepper, adds heat and fresh flavor; edible fruit of Capsicum species.
  • OK
    spices
    diverse plant extracts used to flavor foods; can refer to a mix of single or blended seasonings.
  • OK
    herbs
    A general category of culinary herbs (fresh or dried leaves) used to flavor dishes.
  • OK
    grilled pepper and onion mix (16%) (red pepper)
  • OK
    onion
    A common bulb vegetable used as a base flavor in many cuisines. Crisp, pungent, sweet when cooked.

Swap it for something less processed

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Common questions about Chicken Tikka Masala

Is Chicken Tikka Masala ultra-processed?

Yes — Chicken Tikka Masala by The Gym Kitchen is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The product is classified as UPF because it contains several ultra-processed ingredients and additives, including modified maize starch (a chemically modified starch used as a thickener/stabilizer), acidity regulator (citric acid), and colour (paprika extract). It also contains palm oil in the marinated chicken pieces, which is a highly refined oil. According to NOVA, the presence of such industrial additives and refined ingredients places this product in the ultra-processed food category, even though many of the other ingredients are minimally processed or culinary ingredients.

Which ingredients in Chicken Tikka Masala are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 3 ingredients in Chicken Tikka Masala as ultra-processed markers: modified maize starch, lemon oil, 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.

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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.

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