Why is Bolognese Pasta Sauce classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The sauce is made from concentrated tomato purée, modified maize starch, added sugar and other refined ingredients, which places it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category; the only listed additive is citric acid (E330) used as an acidity regulator.

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

With 3.3 g of sugar and 0.27 g of salt per 100 g, the sauce adds modest carbohydrate load and a low sodium amount, making it less likely to spike blood glucose dramatically, but people monitoring blood sugar should still count the sugars, and those with hypertension should note the salt contribution while it remains well below typical sauce levels.

Based on the ingredients, is this sauce suitable for strict diets like Vegan, Keto, Halal, or Gluten‑Free?

The sauce contains only plant‑based ingredients, so it is vegan, Halal‑compatible and gluten‑free; however, because it includes added sugar and a total carbohydrate content of about 5.3 g per 100 g, it does not fit a strict ketogenic regimen.

ASDA • 500 g

Bolognese Pasta Sauce

Fat And Sauces

Product Insights

The Bolognese Pasta Sauce from ASDA is a meat‑based tomato sauce classified in the “Fat and sauces” PNNS group. It carries a Nutri‑Score of A and is free from artificial colours or flavours, while its NOVA 4 rating indicates it is ultra‑processed and contains added sugars and a modest amount of salt (0.27 g/100 g). Nutritionally it is very low in fat (0.30 g), sugar (3.3 g) and salt compared with typical pasta sauces, yet it provides only 0.86 g of protein per 100 g and a modest fibre content (1.25 g).

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

low

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal31 kcal

Energy130 kJ

Fat0.3 g

Saturated Fat0.1 g

Cholesterol0 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average pasta sauce, this product contains about one‑twentieth the fat (0.30 g vs 12.01 g), one‑third the sugar (3.3 g vs 10.95 g) and one‑twentieth the salt (0.27 g vs 5.02 g) per 100 g.

Ingredients

tomatoes (78%), tomato purée concentrate (10%), water, onions, modified maize starch, sugar, lemon juice from concentrate, salt, herbs, garlic purée, rapeseed oil, acidity regulator (citric acid), ground black pepper, no artificial colours or flavours,

84%

35%

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Bolognese Pasta Sauce.

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