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Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce: nutrition, salt and what the label does not tell you
A standard serving of Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce (88g) contains 63 kcal, 0.72g of salt and 2.73g 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: Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce
Serving
Calories
Salt
Sugar
= teaspoons
Protein
Quarter-jar serving (88g)
63 kcal
0.72g
2.73g
0.7 tsp
2.64g
Half-jar serving (175g)
126 kcal
1.44g
5.43g
1.4 tsp
5.25g
Full jar (470g)
338 kcal
3.85g
14.57g
3.6 tsp
14.1g
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).
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce contains 72 kcal, 4.2g of fat (2.6g saturated), 5.9g of carbohydrate (3.1g sugar), 3g of protein and 0.82g of salt per 100g.
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce uses higher dairy percentages (24% milk, 7% cream, 5% cheese) than standard own-brand equivalents, giving it slightly more calories and a closer nutritional profile to the NOVA 2 branded sauces, while remaining NOVA 4 from the modified maize starch.
NOVA food processing classification
NOVA 4 — ultra-processed food
Modified maize starch; water-first formulation.
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.
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne 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. 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.
Supermarket own-brand pasta sauces are almost universally NOVA 4 — the modified maize starch and citric acid present in this sauce appear across virtually all ambient pasta sauces regardless of brand or price point. The NOVA classification is determined by the formulation of the product, not by its retail price or own-brand status.
Salt
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce contains 0.82g of salt per 100g. A quarter-jar serving (88g) delivers 0.72g of salt, 12% of the adult daily limit of 6g.
The 2010 FSA voluntary salt reduction target for pasta sauce is 1.1g per 100g. At 0.82g per 100g, this product meets that target.
Sugar and added sugar
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce contains 3.1g of sugar per 100g. A quarter-jar serving (88g) delivers 2.73g 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
Own-brand white lasagne sauce
Water, Skimmed Milk (24%), Modified Maize Starch, Single Cream (Milk) (7%), Cheddar Cheese (Milk) (5%), Wheat Flour, Butter (Milk), Salt, White Pepper, Nutmeg. Higher dairy percentages than other own-brands.
Allergens at a glance
Allergen information: Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce
Wheat
Contains
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
Quarter-jar serving (88g): 0.72g of salt (12% of the adult daily limit of 6g); Half-jar serving (175g): 1.44g of salt (24% of the adult daily limit of 6g); Full jar (470g): 3.85g of salt (64% of the adult daily limit of 6g).
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce contains 3.1g of sugar per 100g. A quarter-jar serving (88g) delivers 2.73g of sugar. The sugar present is primarily from natural ingredients.
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce is classified as NOVA 4 — ultra-processed food. It contains modified maize starch — 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 Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce (0.82g per 100g) is higher than a home-made equivalent. The main difference is in the processing additives rather than the nutrition numbers.
Waitrose Essential White Lasagne Sauce 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.
