Prego
Flavor:
Tomato Basil Garlic Italian Sauce
Ingredients:
Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Diced Tomatoes In Tomato Juice, Sugar, Contains Less Than 1% Of: Canola Oil, Salt, Spices, Basil, Natural Flavoring, Citric Acid.
Rating: Not Clean
- 2 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Prego Tomato Basil Garlic Italian Sauce does not meet the criteria for a cleaner food option. This product is not organic, contains genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, added sugars, potentially harmful additives, and is made with canola oil which is considered a harmful oil on our scale.
The sauce begins with a base of tomato puree and diced tomatoes, a standard start for many tomato sauces. However, the inclusion of sugar as an ingredient raises concerns. Added sugars contribute to the overall caloric content without providing any essential nutrients and are linked to various health issues when consumed in excess. The presence of citric acid, while commonly used as a preservative, is also counted as a negative due to its role as an added sugar.
Further detracting from its score, the sauce features canola oil, which we classify as a harmful oil. Canola oil is often heavily processed and may contain trans fats, which are associated with increased heart disease risk. Additionally, ‘natural flavoring’ is listed, which is a vague term that can encompass a range of substances, some of which may be undesirable in a cleaner diet. These flavorings are counted as potentially harmful additives in our scoring system.
The product’s lack of organic certification means that the tomatoes and other ingredients may have been grown using pesticides or other chemicals that many consumers looking for cleaner food options aim to avoid. Moreover, the absence of non-GMO verification adds another layer of concern for those seeking to limit their intake of genetically modified organisms.
The Prego Tomato Basil Garlic Italian Sauce’s score reflects its composition of non-organic, GMO ingredients, added sugars, and potentially harmful additives and oils. To align with cleaner eating principles, a reformulation to include organic tomatoes, the elimination of added sugars, and the use of healthier oils would be necessary. This product’s current formulation does not align with the health-focused criteria established for products to be considered cleaner food options.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
None
Alternatives
No Items found.
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