Primo Taglio

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, the Primo Taglio Mozzarella Cheese & Spicy Salame falls short of the cleaner food options that health-conscious consumers seek. This product is neither organic nor does it use non-GMO ingredients, which already places it at a disadvantage on our scale. Additionally, the presence of added sugars and potentially harmful additives such as natural flavors, along with the inclusion of controversial oils like soybean oil and palm kernel oil, further impacts its standing.

The Mozzarella Cheese component is made from cultured pasteurized milk, salt, and enzymes, which is fairly standard for cheese. However, the absence of organic certification leads to an immediate deduction. The Spicy Cooked Salame, consisting of pork, sea salt, sugar, spices, and paprika, also contains natural flavoring and an ambiguous ‘natural flavor pepperoni seasoning’. The seasoning includes soybean oil, sunflower oil, paprika oleoresin, flavor, and coconut and/or palm kernel oil, along with smoke flavoring. These ingredients contribute to the lower score due to their potential health implications and environmental concerns, particularly with palm oil production.

The use of added sugar in the salame is a point of concern for those monitoring their sugar intake, and it is an unnecessary addition in a product that could rely on the natural flavors of its ingredients. The term ‘natural flavor’ is broad and often encompasses a range of substances that are not always clear to the consumer, which is why products containing them are penalized on our scale.

Furthermore, the use of soybean and palm oils is contentious. Soybean oil is often criticized for its potential health effects due to its high omega-6 fatty acid content, while palm and palm kernel oils are associated with environmental harm due to deforestation and habitat destruction in palm oil-producing regions.

Given these factors, the Primo Taglio Mozzarella Cheese & Spicy Salame warrants our lowest green leaf rating, and consumers looking for cleaner and more environmentally sustainable food options would be advised to seek alternatives that align more closely with their values.