Is Aioli Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
Aioli ranges from Level 2 (traditional) to Level 3 (commercial). Traditional Provencal aioli is a simple emulsion of garlic, olive oil, egg yolk, and lemon juice — essentially garlic mayonnaise. Commercial versions replace olive oil with soybean or canola oil and add preservatives, stabilizers, and natural flavors.
Key Findings
- •Traditional aioli is a 3-4 ingredient garlic and olive oil emulsion — Level 2 and among the simplest sauces
- •Most commercial "aioli" is rebranded flavored mayonnaise made with soybean oil, preservatives, and garlic flavoring
- •Making real aioli at home requires only garlic, olive oil, and patience — no special equipment beyond a mortar or whisk
Why Is Aioli Level 2?
Traditional aioli from southern France and Catalonia is one of the simplest emulsion sauces: raw garlic is pounded in a mortar, then olive oil is slowly drizzled in while stirring constantly, creating a thick, pungent emulsion stabilized by the garlic's natural mucilage. Some versions add egg yolk for easier emulsification. The entire recipe requires 3-4 ingredients and a mortar and pestle. Commercial aioli — the form most Americans encounter — is essentially flavored mayonnaise. It replaces olive oil with soybean or canola oil, adds EDTA (calcium disodium) as a preservative, includes modified food starch for texture, and uses "natural garlic flavor" instead of raw garlic. Some restaurant "aioli" is simply mayonnaise with garlic powder stirred in. The word "aioli" on a commercial label rarely indicates the traditional product.
Aioli Processing Level Distribution
How 413 aioli products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 22.4 · Average nutrition score: 1.8/10
Aioli Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed aioli products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic Aioli Real Mayonnaise, Garlic Aioli | Primal Kitchen | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 8 |
| Simply Organic, Wicked Aioli Sauce Mix | Simply Organic | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 10 |
| Organic Garlic Aioli Vegenaise, Garlic Aioli | Follow Your Heart | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 10 |
| Organic Garlic Aioli Vegenaise, Garlic Aioli | Follow Your Heart | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 10 |
| Simply Organic, Wicked Aioli Sauce Mix | Simply Organic | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 10 |
| Aioli Zesty Garlic | Wildwood | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 9 |
| Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise | Victoria Amory | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 9 |
| Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise | Victory Amory | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 9 |
| Wicked Aioli Sauce Mix, Wicked Aioli | Simply Organic | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 10 |
| Traditional Aioli | Hemisfares | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 6 |
How to Read Aioli Labels
- 1
Traditional aioli needs only garlic, olive oil, and optionally egg yolk and lemon — 3-4 ingredients
- 2
Commercial "aioli" is usually flavored mayonnaise — check if soybean or canola oil is the primary fat
- 3
EDTA (calcium disodium EDTA) is a preservative found in most commercial versions
- 4
"Natural garlic flavor" is not the same as actual garlic — it is a refined extract
Frequently Asked Questions
Is aioli the same as garlic mayonnaise?
Traditional aioli is not mayo — it is garlic emulsified with olive oil, sometimes without egg. However, nearly all commercial "aioli" is flavored mayonnaise (soybean oil, eggs, vinegar, garlic flavoring). The name has been repurposed for marketing.
Is store-bought aioli ultra-processed?
Most store-bought aioli is Level 3. It contains soybean or canola oil, eggs, vinegar, garlic flavoring, EDTA preservative, and modified food starch. It is not ultra-processed but is significantly more processed than the traditional 3-ingredient version.
How do you make real aioli?
Pound garlic with salt in a mortar until smooth, then slowly drizzle in olive oil while stirring constantly until thick and emulsified. Add a squeeze of lemon juice. The entire process takes 10 minutes and uses 3-4 ingredients at Level 2.