Why is Tomato & Mascarpone classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The sauce combines multiple industrially processed ingredients such as tomato paste, refined sugar, double cream and grated cheese, and it includes the additive lactic acid (E270) as an acidity regulator, which together place it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category.

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

With 6.7 g of sugar per 100 g, the sauce can raise blood glucose levels and should be used sparingly by people with diabetes, while its low salt level (0.77 g) is suitable for hypertension but overall portion control remains important.

Is this sauce suitable for vegan, keto or gluten‑free diets?

The product is not vegan because it contains mascarpone, double cream and Grana Padano cheese, which provide milk and egg allergens. It contains 9.8 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, making it borderline for strict keto diets, and no gluten ingredients are listed, so it can be considered gluten‑free pending cross‑contamination checks.

Loyd Grossman

Tomato & Mascarpone

Fat And Sauces

Product Insights

Tomato & Mascarpone is a ready-to-serve pasta sauce that belongs to the Fat and sauces and Dressings and sauces families. It carries a Nutri-Score of B and is classified in NOVA group 4, reflecting an ultra-processed product that contains added sugars, dairy and a small amount of salt, while providing 101 kcal, 5.5 g fat (3.6 g saturated), 2.6 g protein and 0.77 g salt per 100 g. The sauce is rich in tomatoes (about 73 % fruit‑vegetable content) and offers a modest protein boost, but its moderate sugar (6.7 g) and saturated‑fat levels, plus the presence of milk and egg allergens, may limit suitability for certain diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

moderate

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal101 kcal

Fat5.5 g

Saturated Fat3.6 g

Carbohydrates9.8 g

Sugars6.7 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average pasta‑sauce benchmark, this sauce is lower in calories (101 kcal vs 183 kcal), total fat (5.5 g vs 12.0 g) and sugars (6.7 g vs 10.9 g), but its saturated fat is higher (3.6 g vs 2.1 g) while salt is well below the average (0.77 g vs 5.0 g).

Ingredients

Tomatoes (73%), Mascarpone Cheese (10%) (Milk), Tomato Paste (6%), Sugar, Grana Padano Cheese PDO (2%) (contains Egg, Milk), Onion Purée, Double Cream (Milk), Sea Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic Purée, Potato Starch, Basil, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Natural Flavouring, Ground Black Pepper, Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid).

84%

35%

Unlock What Your Food Doesn't Tell You

Scan this and millions of other food products to discover hidden positive & negative points, scores percentage, additives, allergens, and deeper product insights with the free NutrScan app.