Is Tofu Ultra-Processed?

Why Tofu scores NOVA 1 — Unprocessed

Plain tofu contains three ingredients: water, soybeans, and a coagulant such as calcium sulphate or nigari (magnesium chloride). Every plain tofu product we checked at Tesco follows this pattern. The Tofoo Co Naked Tofu 280G lists water, soybeans (31%), and calcium sulphate. Tesco Plant Chef Organic Firm Tofu 399g is similarly minimal: water, organic soybeans, coagulant (calcium sulphate). These are whole-food ingredients with no additives, no flavourings, and no preservatives.

The coagulant is often misunderstood. Calcium sulphate is a naturally occurring mineral salt that has been used to make tofu since at least 200 BC in China. It is not an industrial additive — it is the tofu equivalent of rennet in cheese-making. Nigari (magnesium chloride derived from seawater) is even more traditional. Neither triggers any UPF classification.

Smoked tofu, such as The Tofoo Co Smoked Organic Tofu 225G, scores NOVA 2. Smoking is a traditional preservation method — the same reason smoked salmon or smoked cheese are NOVA 2 rather than NOVA 1. The ingredients remain clean: soybeans, water, coagulant, plus the smoking process.

Where tofu products start climbing the NOVA scale is when manufacturers add coatings, flavourings, and other processing aids. The all plants Tofu Goujons with Spinach 160g contains a breadcrumb coating, vegetable oils, starches, and flavourings — pushing it to NOVA 4. This is no longer tofu in any traditional sense; it is a processed product that happens to contain tofu.

Nutritionally, plain tofu provides roughly 8-12g of protein per 100g, with minimal saturated fat and no sugar. It is a genuinely whole-food protein source.