Amy’s Kitchen

Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Amy’s Kitchen 4 Cheese Pizza struggles to meet the criteria for cleaner food options. This product falls short due to its inclusion of certain ingredients that detract from its overall healthfulness.

The pizza incorporates organic unbleached wheat flour and a variety of cheeses, including part-skim mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, and organic provolone. The use of organic extra virgin olive oil and organic tomato purée aligns with cleaner eating principles. However, the product is not fully organic, leading to a deduction in its green leaf rating. Although the ingredients are non-GMO, which is a positive aspect, the addition of sugars, specifically organic cane sugar, negatively impacts the score. The presence of added sugars is a critical factor in assessing the quality of cleaner food products.

Further scrutiny reveals the use of organic honey and sea salt, which are preferable to more processed alternatives but still contribute to the product’s lower rating due to their status as added sugars. The inclusion of expeller pressed high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, while not the worst choice in oils, is less ideal than if the product solely relied on olive oil for fat content. Organic ingredients such as garlic, basil, red wine vinegar, and spices do provide some nutritional benefits, but they are overshadowed by the negatives of the added sugars.

The Amy’s Kitchen 4 Cheese Pizza has room for improvement. By eliminating added sugars and transitioning to a fully organic ingredient list, the product could significantly increase its green leaf rating. The current formulation, with its use of non-organic ingredients and added sugars, holds it back from being a top choice for consumers seeking the cleanest food options. The product’s score reflects these shortcomings, indicating that while it has some positive attributes, it does not fully embrace the principles of cleaner, healthier eating.