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Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce: nutrition, salt and what the label does not tell you
A standard serving of Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce (88g) contains 84 kcal, 1.32g of salt and 2.2g of sugar. It is classified as NOVA 4 — ultra-processed food under the NOVA food processing system.
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Salt, sugar and UPF level by serving
Choose a brand, sauce and serving size. See how salt, sugar, saturated fat and NOVA processing level compare across brands and own-label alternatives.
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Nutrition by serving
Nutrition by serving: Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce
Serving
Calories
Salt
Sugar
= teaspoons
Protein
Quarter-jar serving (88g)
84 kcal
1.32g
2.2g
0.6 tsp
2.2g
Half-jar serving (125g)
119 kcal
1.88g
3.13g
0.8 tsp
3.13g
Half-jar serving (175g)
166 kcal
2.63g
4.38g
1.1 tsp
4.38g
Salt highlighted in amber above 15% of adult daily limit (6g), red above 33%. Sugar highlighted similarly against 30g adult daily free sugar limit. Teaspoons calculated at 4g per teaspoon (level teaspoon of granulated sugar).
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce contains 95 kcal, 7g of fat (2.2g saturated), 5.8g of carbohydrate (2.5g sugar), 2.5g of protein and 1.5g of salt per 100g.
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara contains lardons (cured pork), making it unsuitable for vegetarians, and dried egg yolk rather than fresh eggs. At 1.5g of salt per 100g it is significantly saltier than tomato-based pasta sauces, and the modified maize starch thickens what would otherwise be a thin cream-based sauce. A 175g half-jar serving delivers 2.63g of salt, 44% of the adult daily limit.
The NOVA classification system groups foods by the extent and purpose of processing. NOVA 4 covers products that contain industrial additives not typically used in home cooking — stabilisers, flavour enhancers, modified starches, acidity regulators and similar.
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce is classified as NOVA 4 — ultra-processed food under the NOVA food processing system.
The following industrial additives are present in its ingredient list: modified maize starch, flavouring, yeast extract. These ingredients are not present in a home-made equivalent of this sauce — they are used to achieve a consistent texture, extended shelf life, and flavour stability at industrial scale.
NOVA 4 classification does not automatically mean a food is harmful. The NHS Eatwell Guide does not use NOVA classifications, and processed convenience foods can form part of a balanced diet. The significance of the NOVA classification is that it gives a shorthand for identifying foods that have been engineered rather than cooked — useful context when evaluating the ingredient list alongside the nutrition numbers.
Salt
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce contains 1.5g of salt per 100g. A quarter-jar serving (88g) delivers 1.32g of salt, 22% of the adult daily limit of 6g.
At 1.5g of salt per 100g this is a high-salt product by UK Food Standards Agency standards (above 1.5g per 100g counts as high). Pasta sauce is often eaten alongside other salty components — Parmesan cheese, bread, cured meat — so the cumulative salt load of a pasta meal can easily exceed the adult daily limit.
Sugar and added sugar
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce contains 2.5g of sugar per 100g. A quarter-jar serving (88g) delivers 2.2g of sugar. Tomatoes contain natural sugar (fructose), so some sugar content in any tomato-based sauce is expected. The key question is whether additional sugar has been added beyond what the tomatoes themselves provide.
Ingredients
Cream-based carbonara sauce
Water, Skimmed Milk (20%), Single Cream (Milk) (13%), Modified Maize Starch, Dried Egg Yolk, Hard Cheese (Milk), Lardons (Pork, Salt), Salt, Yeast Extract, Natural Flavouring, Garlic Powder, White Pepper, Onion Powder. Pork lardons make it not suitable for vegetarians.
Allergens at a glance
Allergen information: Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce
Wheat
Not present
Rye
Not present
Barley
Not present
Oats
Not present
Sesame
Not present
Soya
Not present
Milk
Contains
Eggs
Contains
Fish
Not present
Crustaceans
Not present
Celery
Not present
Mustard
Not present
Molluscs
Not present
Lupin
Not present
Frequently asked questions
Quarter-jar serving (88g): 1.32g of salt (22% of the adult daily limit of 6g); Half-jar serving (125g): 1.88g of salt (31% of the adult daily limit of 6g); Half-jar serving (175g): 2.63g of salt (44% of the adult daily limit of 6g).
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce contains 2.5g of sugar per 100g. A quarter-jar serving (88g) delivers 2.2g of sugar. The sugar present is primarily from natural ingredients.
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce is classified as NOVA 4 — ultra-processed food. It contains modified maize starch, flavouring, yeast extract — industrial additives not typically used in home cooking.
A home-made tomato pasta sauce using tinned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil and salt typically contains around 0.3g to 0.5g of salt per 100g (from the added salt alone), no modified starch, and no acidity regulators. The salt content of Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce (1.5g per 100g) is higher than a home-made equivalent. The main difference is in the processing additives rather than the nutrition numbers.
Dolmio Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce contains animal-derived ingredients and is not suitable for vegetarians. Check the label for specific ingredient details.
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Nutrition from official brand UK labels (Dolmio UK, Loyd Grossman UK, Sacla' UK, Napolina UK, Barilla UK), Action on Salt pasta sauce and pesto surveys (2009, 2017), Which? blind taste test 2023 (pesto), MadeForMums independent analysis, and UK supermarket product listings. NOVA classifications from ingredient lists at time of writing. For guidance only, not medical advice.
