Ketchup: which ones to choose if you want to avoid ultra-processed
Ketchup can be made with just a few simple ingredients. Still, many popular brands use additives that make them ultra-processed. In this guide, you’ll find out which ketchups are ultra-processed – and which ones are not.
Tormund Gerhardsen
Founder of The Food App
What is ultra-processed food?
Ultra-processed food refers to products that have gone through extensive industrial processing. A classic sign of ultra-processed foods is long ingredient lists with items you wouldn’t normally find in a typical kitchen.
How much tomato is actually in your ketchup?
Tiptree Tomato Sauce is a good example of a simple, tomato-rich ketchup. It contains 180g of tomatoes per 100g of ketchup. No additives – and not ultra-processed.
But how can there be over 100g of tomatoes in 100g of ketchup? It’s because tomatoes are cooked down during production. Water is removed to concentrate flavour, so the number reflects how much raw tomato was used before reduction.
Also note that some brands list fruit per 100g instead of just tomatoes. Rubies In The Rubble lists 242g of fruit, which includes both tomatoes and surplus pears or apples. It does contain a preservative (potassium sorbate), but is still not considered ultra-processed due to the otherwise simple ingredients.
Still, high tomato content isn’t enough on its own. Heinz No Added Salt & Sugar uses 200g of tomatoes but also adds sweeteners and fibre additives – making it ultra-processed despite the tomato count.
Tiptree Tomato Sauce 310G
Ingredients: Tomatoes (180g per 100g of Ketchup), Sugar, Wine Vinegar, Lemon Juice, Salt, Spices
Tiptree Tomato Sauce 310G is Not ultra-processed .
Rubies In The Rubble Ketchup 485G
Ingredients: Fruit (242g per 100g: Tomatoes, Surplus Pears/Apples), Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate, Spices
Rubies In The Rubble Ketchup 485G is Not ultra-processed .
Heinz No Added Salt & Sugar Tomato Ketchup 425g
Ingredients: Tomatoes (200g per 100g Tomato Ketchup), Spirit Vinegar, Lemon Juice from Concentrate, Potassium Chloride, Acid (Malic Acid), Citrus Fibre, Spice and Herb Extracts (contain Celery), Sweetener (Sucralose)
Heinz No Added Salt & Sugar Tomato Ketchup 425g er Ultra-processed.
Is Heinz ketchup ultra-processed?
Heinz is the UK’s biggest ketchup brand – and they offer both ultra-processed and non-ultra-processed options. Some are made with simple, recognisable ingredients, while others contain additives that place them in the ultra-processed (UP) category.
For example, Heinz Top Down Squeezy Tomato Ketchup and Heinz 50% Less Salt & Sugar use concentrated tomatoes along with vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices. These are not considered ultra-processed.
In contrast, Heinz No Added Salt & Sugar contains sweeteners (sucralose), acid (malic acid), potassium chloride, and citrus fibre – ingredients linked to ultra-processing. The same goes for flavoured versions like Heinz Pickle Flavour, which adds flavourings and powders.
Heinz Top Down Squeezy Tomato Ketchup Sauce 460G
Ingredients: Tomatoes (148g per 100g Tomato Ketchup), Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Spice and Herb Extracts (contain Celery), Spice
Heinz Top Down Squeezy Tomato Ketchup Sauce 460G is Not ultra-processed .
Heinz 50% Less Salt & Sugar Tomato Ketchup 880g
Ingredients: Tomatoes (174g per 100g Tomato Ketchup), Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Spice and Herb Extracts (contain Celery), Sweetener (Steviol Glycosides), Spice
Heinz 50% Less Salt & Sugar Tomato Ketchup 880g is Not ultra-processed .
Heinz Tomato Ketchup Pickle Flavour 460g
Ingredients: Tomatoes (148g per 100g Tomato Ketchup), Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Natural Dill Flavour, Onion Powder, Spice and Herb Extracts (contains Celery), Spice, Natural Flavouring
Heinz Tomato Ketchup Pickle Flavour 460g er Ultra-processed.
What makes ketchup ultra-processed?
Ketchup becomes ultra-processed when raw ingredients are replaced with industrially processed ones. This often happens to reduce sugar, extend shelf life, or cut costs. Instead of natural spices, producers may use flavourings. If sugar is removed, it’s often replaced with sweeteners. These swaps help mask unwanted tastes, but signal more intensive processing.
This is common in many value or flavoured ketchups, where ingredients like modified starch, natural flavourings, preservatives, or onion and garlic powder are added instead of using whole, recognisable ingredients.
Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup Sauce Squeezy 430ml
Ingredients: Water, tomato paste (30%), sugar, spirit vinegar, salt, natural flavourings
Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup Sauce Squeezy 430ml er Ultra-processed.
Tesco Tomato Ketchup 555G
Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS: Tomato Purée, Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Modified Maize Starch, Salt, Spices, Flavourings, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder.
Tesco Tomato Ketchup 555G er Ultra-processed.
Daddies Tomato Ketchup 400G
Ingredients: Tomatoes (117g per 100g Ketchup), Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Modified Cornflour, Salt, Preservatives - Potasium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Natural Cassia Flavour
Daddies Tomato Ketchup 400G er Ultra-processed.
Pudliszki Hot Tomato Ketchup 480G
Ingredients: Tomato Puree 70%, Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Modified Maize Starch, Salt, Natural Flavourings (Contain Celery), Cayenne Pepper 0.01%, Spices, Herbs
Pudliszki Hot Tomato Ketchup 480G er Ultra-processed.
Even organic ketchup can be ultra‑processed
Organic ketchup can be either ultra-processed or not. For exsample, Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup contains only tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, salt, onion powder, and spices – and is not ultra-processed.
Tesco Organic Tomato Ketchup, on the other hand, includes starch and flavourings – making it likely ultra-processed despite being organic.
Rule of thumb: check for sweeteners, flavourings, fibre additives, or acidity regulators – not just the label.
Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup 580G
Ingredients: Tomatoes* (180g per 100g Ketchup), Sugar*, Spirit Vinegar*, Salt, Spices* (contains Celery), Onion Powder*, Garlic Powder*, *Certified Organic ingredients
Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup 580G is Not ultra-processed .