Why is Tikka Masala Fragrant Cooking Sauce classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The sauce is labeled NOVA 4 because it combines many refined ingredients such as processed cream, yogurt, modified starch and a spice paste, and it includes two declared food additives: E260 (acetic acid) and E330 (citric acid), which are typical of industrially formulated sauces.

How does the sugar and salt content in this sauce affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 6.3 g of sugar per 100 g, the sauce adds a moderate amount of carbohydrate that can raise blood glucose, so diabetics should limit portion size. The salt level is very low (0.001 g/100 g), making it generally suitable for a hypertensive diet, though any added sodium should still be considered within the total daily intake.

Is Tikka Masala Fragrant Cooking Sauce suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

The sauce is not vegan because it contains dairy ingredients (single cream and yogurt). It is not keto‑friendly due to its 9.1 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, including 6.3 g of sugars. It may be acceptable for halal diets as it contains no pork‑derived ingredients, but halal certification is not stated. No wheat or gluten‑containing ingredients are listed, so it can be considered gluten‑free, although cross‑contamination cannot be ruled out.

Sainsbury's • 500g

Tikka Masala Fragrant Cooking Sauce

Fat And Sauces

Product Insights

Tikka Masala Fragrant Cooking Sauce is a ready‑to‑use curry sauce that falls under the Fat and sauces and Dressings and sauces groups in the UK food classification. It carries a Nutri‑Score of B and is classified as NOVA group 4, indicating an ultra‑processed product with moderate fat (4.8 g/100 g), moderate sugars (6.3 g/100 g) and low salt (0.001 g/100 g). The sauce provides a modest amount of fiber (0.9 g) and uses natural tomato and spice ingredients, but it also contains dairy allergens, added sugars and two food additives (E260 acetic acid and E330 citric acid), which may be a concern for some consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

moderate

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal86 kcal

Fat4.8 g

Saturated Fat1.7 g

Monounsaturated Fat2 g

Polyunsaturated Fat0.9 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average curry sauce, this Tikka Masala sauce contains markedly less fat, sugar and salt and provides about half the calories per 100 g.

Ingredients

Tomatoes (54%), Water, Single Cream (Cows' Milk) (6%), Onions (6%), Tomato Purée, Sugar, Yogurt (Cows' Milk) (2.5%), Rapeseed Oil, Dried Onion, Modified Maize Starch, Creamed Coconut, Ground Cumin, Coriander Leaf, Salt, Ground Coriander, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid; Garlic Purée, Ginger Purée, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Turmeric, Spice Paste (Rapeseed Oil, Water, Sugar, Onion Purée, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Salt, Coriander Leaf, Ground Ginger, Ground Cumin, Ground Coriander, Ground Cardamom, Paprika, Ground Cassia, Garlic Powder, Cumin Seed, Ground Fennel, Ground Cloves, Chilli Powder, Ground Fenugreek, Acidity Regulator: Acetic Acid; Ground Black Pepper, Black Onion Seeds), Ground Cardamom Chilli Powder, Ground Black Pepper, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Fenugreek, Dried Fenugreek Leaf. F p Pro Sal Fori onlin U

84%

35%

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