Is Tartar Sauce Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
Tartar sauce is highly processed (Level 3). It starts with a mayonnaise base (already Level 2-3) and adds pickled relish, capers, modified food starch, and preservatives like calcium disodium EDTA and potassium sorbate.
Key Findings
- •Commercial tartar sauce compounds processing layers — the mayonnaise base alone contains 8-10 ingredients, then relish and stabilizers add 10-15 more
- •High fructose corn syrup or sugar often appears in the relish component, adding sweetness most people do not expect in tartar sauce
- •Homemade tartar sauce is one of the easiest condiments to make at home, requiring only mayo, chopped pickles or capers, lemon juice, and herbs
Why Is Tartar Sauce Level 3?
Tartar sauce is a compound condiment built on top of an already processed base. Commercial mayonnaise provides the foundation (soybean oil, eggs, vinegar, EDTA), to which manufacturers add sweet pickle relish (cucumbers, high fructose corn syrup, vinegar, xanthan gum), dehydrated onion, modified food starch as a thickener, and additional preservatives. The cumulative ingredient list typically reaches 20-25 items. Homemade tartar sauce — mayonnaise mixed with chopped pickles, capers, lemon juice, and dill — is dramatically simpler at Level 2, but the commercial version must survive months of refrigerated shelf life, which demands stabilizers and preservatives that a home cook would never use.
Tartar Sauce Processing Level Distribution
How 552 tartar sauce products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 21.9 · Average nutrition score: 1.5/10
Tartar Sauce Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed tartar sauce products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Tartar Sauce | Frisch's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 9 |
| Original Tartar Sauce | Frisch's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 9 |
| Original Tartar Sauce | Frisch's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 9 |
| Organic Tartar Sauce, Tartar | Suzie's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 5.0 | 15 |
| Organic Tartar Sauce, Tartar | Suzie's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 5.0 | 15 |
| Organic Tartar Sauce, Tartar | Suzie's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 5.0 | 15 |
| Organic Tartar Sauce, Tartar | Suzie's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 5.0 | 15 |
| Organic Tartar Sauce, Tartar | Suzie's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 5.0 | 15 |
| Organic Tartar Sauce | Sau-sea | Processing Level: 3 out of 4 - Highly Processed | 5.5 | 20 |
| Lemon Tartar Sauce | Lvar's | Processing Level: 3 out of 4 - Highly Processed | 5.5 | 18 |
How to Read Tartar Sauce Labels
- 1
The ingredient list is layered — the mayonnaise base has its own sub-ingredients, then the relish adds more
- 2
Modified food starch and xanthan gum are thickeners used to prevent separation during shelf storage
- 3
EDTA (calcium disodium EDTA) appears in both the mayo base and sometimes the overall product
- 4
Homemade tartar sauce (mayo, chopped pickles, lemon juice, dill) is Level 2 and takes under 5 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tartar sauce unhealthy?
Tartar sauce is calorie-dense due to its mayonnaise base (roughly 70-80 calories per tablespoon) and commercial versions contain preservatives and modified starches. From a processing standpoint, it is Level 3. Homemade versions using quality mayo and fresh ingredients are simpler and Level 2.
What is tartar sauce made of?
Traditional tartar sauce is mayonnaise mixed with chopped pickles or relish, capers, lemon juice, and herbs like dill or parsley. Commercial versions add modified food starch, xanthan gum, EDTA, potassium sorbate, and sometimes high fructose corn syrup to the relish component.
Can I make tartar sauce at home?
Yes. Mix mayonnaise with finely chopped dill pickles, a squeeze of lemon juice, and optional capers and dill. This takes under 5 minutes and produces a Level 2 product compared to the Level 3 store-bought version.