Progresso

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, the Progresso Spice It Up Spicy New England Clam Chowder falls at the bottom tier of our cleaner food options scale. This product is neither organic nor does it use non-GMO ingredients, which significantly reduces its standing on our scale. Furthermore, the inclusion of added sugars, potentially harmful additives, and harmful oils such as soybean oil, further detracts from its score.

The ingredients list reveals several elements that raise concerns. It begins with clam broth, potatoes, and clams, which are typical for clam chowder. However, the presence of soybean oil, a non-organic and potentially GMO ingredient, is problematic. The product also contains modified food starch, and although it is a common thickener in processed foods, its alteration from its natural state is a point of contention. Moreover, the inclusion of natural flavor is a vague term that often encompasses a range of substances, some of which may be undesirable.

The presence of sugar as an added sweetener is another negative aspect of this product. While sugar is a common ingredient in many foods, its addition to products that do not traditionally require it, such as clam chowder, is unnecessary and contributes to the overall unhealthiness of the product.

The scoring system is stringent, and this product has not met the criteria for a cleaner, healthier option. The ingredients that have led to its low score are commonly found in processed foods, which we aim to minimize in favor of more natural, wholesome alternatives.

The Progresso Spice It Up Spicy New England Clam Chowder, with its 1/5 green leaves rating, is a product that consumers looking for cleaner food options should avoid. The combination of non-organic ingredients, GMOs, added sugars, potentially harmful additives, and harmful oils make it a poor choice for those seeking healthier alternatives in a market saturated with processed and unhealthy food products.