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

It receives a NOVA 4 label because the ingredient list is dominated by processed components such as flavorings, emulsifiers, sweeteners and preservatives rather than whole foods; the label lists additives including the stabiliser E1450, the colourant E160c, the antioxidant E306, acidity regulators E330, E339 and E452, sweeteners E960 and E960a, and flavour enhancers E621 and E635, among others.

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

The 21 g of sugar per 100 g can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose, making the sauce unsuitable for tight‑control diabetic plans, while the 4.3 g of salt contributes roughly 73% of the daily recommended maximum, which may aggravate hypertension; therefore it should be used sparingly or avoided in such diets.

Based on the ingredients, is this Carbonara Sauce suitable for strict diets like vegan, keto, halal or gluten‑free?

The sauce is certified halal, but it contains soy, wheat‑derived gluten and a chicken‑type aroma, so it is not vegan, not gluten‑free and its 45 g of carbohydrates per 100 g far exceed keto limits, making it unsuitable for those strict diets.

Buldak

Carbonara Sauce

Fat And Sauces

Product Insights

Carbonara Sauce by Buldak is a halal‑certified condiment classified in the 'fat and sauces' group of dressings and sauces. With a Nutri‑Score of E and a NOVA 4 rating, it supplies 350 kcal per 100 g, 17 g of fat (including 5.4 g saturated fat), 21 g of sugar and 4.3 g of salt, which places it well above average levels for calories, fat, sugar and protein in typical sauces. The formulation relies on numerous additives such as E1450, E160c, E306 and several flavour enhancers, and it contains common allergens like soy, gluten and celery, making it a highly processed option that may not fit health‑focused or allergen‑free diets.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

moderate

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal350 kcal

Fat17 g

Saturated Fat5.4 g

Carbohydrates45 g

Sugars21 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sauce, this Carbonara Sauce delivers roughly double the calories (350 kcal vs 183 kcal), 40% more fat, more than twice the sugar and protein, while its salt content is slightly lower than the category average.

Ingredients

Samyang Bulda TM Hot Sauce MAHALANGESCHMACK INT BLOCKERY UND SUSSUNGSMITTEL ZUTATEN SAUCE (100%) GER ALER MASER MASC, MASSIRUP EMULGATOR (E 1450, AROMA, ZUCKER, SAUREREGULATOR ALONE, ANTIOXIDATIONSMITTEL E 306, ENTHALT SOJAL HÜHNERAROMA ( ENTHALT WEZEN, LMERA DIVER SOURSAUCE WASSER, SOJARCHNEN, WERZEN, SALZ, FRUKTOSE, GESCHMACSVERSTÄRKER ONE-TANT PLUVER SUSSUNGSMITTEL E 980, ENTHALT GLUTEN, PFLANZUCHES KONOSNUSS GEWÜRZ DEALER MALTODEXTRIN, KNOBLAUCH SOJABOHNENOL, HEFEEXTRAKT GEWÜRZ MALTODEXTRIN Original monianze tenuen masam ENTLA SarTHMACK.NET ZUCKERN UND SÜSSUNGSMITTEL ZUTATEN SAUCE (109): ASSE FARORLIVER WASSER MASOL, MASSIRUP, EMULGATOR JE 1450), AROMA, ZUCKER SAUREREGULATOR EESTAL SERGIATORE 4S ANTICIDATIONSMITTEL E 306), ENTHALT SOJAL HOHNERAROMA (ENTHALT WERE WE ZUCKER SQUASAUCE (WASSER, SOJABCHINEN, WERZEN, SALZ, FRUKTOSE, GESCHMACKSVERSTANER ECONSPIER, MALTODEXTRIN, INOBLAUCH, SOJABOHNENOL, HEFEEXTRAKT-GEWÜRZ (MALTODEXTRIN NUCCA EXTINT PULVER SUSSUNGSMITTEL (E 960) ENTHALT GLUTEN PFLANZLICHES KODSHUSS GENZ B ACE WITH HOT CHICKEN FLAVOUR AND CARBONAL FLAVOUR WITH SUGARS AG ER WATER FLAVOURING (CONTAINS SOY), VEGETABLE OIL POWDER (WATER, CONCL P EMULSIFIER (E 1450), FLAVOURING, SUGAR, ACIDITY REGULATORIE 339), ANTICHE REE SALT, ACIDITY REGULATORIE 452), ANTIOXIDANT (E 306), CONTAINS SOY, FLAVOS KEN FLAVOUR (CONTAINS WHEAT, GLUTEN, SOY, CELERY), CORN SYRUP SUGES TER, SOYBEAN, WHEAT, SALT, FRUCTOSE, FLAVOUR ENHANCER (E 635) GC YUCCA EXTRACT POWDER, SWEETENER(E 960a), CONTAINS GLUTEN, VEGET SEASONING VEGETABLE COCONUT POWDER, MALTODEXTRIN), GARLIC SOYBEAN BTRACT SEASONING (MALTODEXTRIN, YEAST EXTRACT POWDER, SUGAR FLA GE 435, E 621), SALT), HABANERO PEPPER SEASONING (ANTICAKING AGENT EST HANCERS (E 631, E 627), COLOUR (E 160c), CONTAINS SOY), STARCH SEASONING CH DI REGULATOR (E 330), BASIL POWDER, FLAVOUR ENHANCER(E 635), BLACK PER ACT CHILI PEPPER SEASONING(CONTAINS SOY), ONION, SALT, COLOUR (E 160 C HOXENERE 415), YUCCA EXTRACT POWDER, GREEN TEA FLAVOURING SWEETE ALGENS

84%

35%

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