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Tesco Basil Pesto: nutrition, salt and what the label does not tell you
A standard serving of Tesco Basil Pesto (45g) contains 160 kcal, 0.95g of salt and 1.26g of sugar. It is classified as NOVA 3 — processed food under the NOVA food processing system.
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Salt, sugar and UPF level by serving
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Nutrition by serving
Nutrition by serving: Tesco Basil Pesto
Serving
Calories
Salt
Sugar
= teaspoons
Protein
Pesto serving (45g per 100g pasta)
160 kcal
0.95g
1.26g
0.3 tsp
2.48g
Pesto serving (50g)
178 kcal
1.05g
1.4g
0.4 tsp
2.75g
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).
Tesco Basil Pesto contains 355 kcal, 33g of fat (5.5g saturated), 7.5g of carbohydrate (2.8g sugar), 5.5g of protein and 2.1g of salt per 100g.
Tesco own-brand Basil Pesto has a very similar ingredient list to Sacla' Classic, using Grana Padano (12%) and Parmigiano Reggiano (2%) alongside cashew nuts and pine kernels. At 2.1g of salt per 100g it is notably lower in salt than Sacla' Classic (3.0g), making it one of the lower-salt mainstream pestos available.
The NOVA classification system groups foods by the extent and purpose of processing. NOVA 3 covers foods that have been processed using salt, sugar, oil or other culinary substances, but without industrial additives.
Tesco Basil Pesto is classified as NOVA 3 — processed food under the NOVA food processing system.
Salt
Tesco Basil Pesto contains 2.1g of salt per 100g, which is concentrated — pesto is used in smaller portions than jar sauces. A pesto serving (45g per 100g pasta) delivers 0.95g of salt, 16% of the adult daily limit of 6g.
At 2.1g 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
Tesco Basil Pesto contains 2.8g of sugar per 100g. A pesto serving (45g per 100g pasta) delivers 1.26g of sugar. In pesto, the sugar content is low (from the basil and garlic) and there is typically no added sugar.
Ingredients
Basil pesto
Basil (34%), Sunflower Oil, Grana Padano (Milk) (12%), Cashew Nuts, Potato Flakes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Pine Kernels, Salt, Garlic, Parmigiano Reggiano (Milk) (2%), Acidity Regulator (Lactic Acid).
Allergens at a glance
Allergen information: Tesco Basil Pesto
Wheat
Not present
Rye
Not present
Barley
Not present
Oats
Not present
Sesame
Not present
Soya
Not present
Milk
Contains
Eggs
Not present
Fish
Not present
Crustaceans
Not present
Celery
Not present
Mustard
Not present
Molluscs
Not present
Lupin
Not present
Frequently asked questions
Pesto serving (45g per 100g pasta): 0.95g of salt (16% of the adult daily limit of 6g); Pesto serving (50g): 1.05g of salt (18% of the adult daily limit of 6g).
Tesco Basil Pesto contains 2.8g of sugar per 100g. A pesto serving (45g per 100g pasta) delivers 1.26g of sugar. The sugar present is primarily from natural ingredients.
Tesco Basil Pesto is classified as NOVA 3 — processed food. It contains only recognisable whole food ingredients without industrial additives.
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 Tesco Basil Pesto (2.1g per 100g) is higher than a home-made equivalent. The main difference is in the processing additives rather than the nutrition numbers.
Tesco Basil Pesto does not contain meat, fish or other non-vegetarian ingredients in its standard recipe. It is suitable for vegetarians.
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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.
