Hillshire Farm

Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin Sliced Black Forest Ham falls significantly short of the cleaner food options our website advocates for. This product is not organic, and it does not use non-GMO ingredients, two critical factors in our assessment criteria. Additionally, the inclusion of added sugars—specifically sugar and citric acid—further detracts from its score. More concerning is the presence of dextrose, which we categorize as a more harmful type of added sugar. Moreover, the product contains additives like natural flavorings, which, despite their benign-sounding name, raise concerns due to their potential health impacts.

The ingredients list for Hillshire Farm’s ham includes ham, water, and vinegar, with less than 2% of salt, dextrose, sodium phosphate, natural flavorings (including celery juice powder), sugar, sea salt, and citric acid. The use of vinegar and celery juice powder as preservatives might be seen as a slight positive. However, the product does not meet the standards for those seeking clean eating options, as it lacks an organic certification and contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The presence of sodium phosphate, a common preservative, also warrants attention. While it is used to maintain the product’s freshness and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, its inclusion is not aligned with the clean food philosophy that prioritizes minimal processing and additive-free products.

Our evaluation process is stringent, reflecting a commitment to guiding consumers towards the healthiest and most natural food choices. The Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin Sliced Black Forest Ham’s low score indicates that it does not align with these values. As such, we recommend consumers seeking cleaner, healthier options to consider alternative products that better meet these criteria.