Top Jarred Pasta Sauces with Low-Quality Ingredients You Should Avoid

Jarred pasta sauces are a convenient staple, but not all are created equal. Some brands use lower-quality ingredients, compromising both taste and health benefits. This guide highlights popular brands with the lowest quality ingredients to help consumers make informed choices.

Convenience Meets Compromise: Examining Low-Quality Ingredients in Popular Jarred Pasta Sauces

Regarding convenience foods, pasta is a delicious, filling, and cost-effective meal for families of all sizes. However, making homemade pasta sauce can be a labor of love (not to mention time and money), making jarred pasta sauces a standout pantry staple in many households. With a jar of sauce and a bag of pasta, all that’s needed is added veggies or protein to make a complete, quick, and easy meal for busy weeknights.

However, convenience often comes at a cost through taste or the quality of the ingredients used to make the product. According to Mashed, not all jarred sauces are created equal. While some boast rich, authentic flavors and are made with high-quality ingredients, others must catch up, relying on cheaper, less nutritious components that may compromise the sauce's taste and health benefits.

To clear up any confusion when searching the pasta sauce aisle, this list highlights brands of sauces made with the lowest quality ingredients. By identifying common culprits that can turn a promising sauce into a disappointing meal and understanding what to watch out for in ingredients, better choices can be made for both the palate and health.

Prego Traditional Italian Sauce

Prego is a familiar sight in grocery store aisles. However, familiarity doesn't guarantee quality, as is evident in the brand's Traditional Italian Sauce. This product has some common pitfalls of lower-quality pasta sauces, like added sugars. When used in moderation, additional sugar can help balance the natural acidity of tomatoes. However, Prego's addition of four grams of added sugar significantly increases the sugar content to nine grams, contributing to empty calories.

Additionally, Prego uses canola oil, a choice likely driven by a desire for cost-effectiveness rather than flavor or quality. Canola oil lacks the distinctive taste and health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, a traditional ingredient in homemade pasta sauces rich in antioxidants and healthy essential fatty acids. In contrast, canola oil contributes a more neutral taste and lacks olive oil's unique depth. So, although Prego Traditional Italian Sauce might be convenient, affordable, and widely available, its added sugars and use of canola oil make it a less desirable choice for those seeking a high-quality pasta sauce.

Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce

Bertolli is another famous brand of mass-produced, jarred pasta sauces. Its Tomato and Basil Sauce, while aiming to capture the essence of authentic Italian cuisine, need to catch up due to the inclusion of a few lower-quality ingredients. For one, the brand uses tomatoes treated with calcium chloride. Although this additive is commonly used to maintain the firmness of tomatoes during processing, it can impart a metallic aftertaste that some consumers don't like. As tomatoes are arguably the most crucial ingredient in the sauce, their quality and flavor must be up to par.

Bertolli's packaging label states the brand uses added sugar in its sauce. Sugar is ordinary, even in homemade sauces. However, its presence in larger quantities (11 grams total in serving this variety) can negatively affect the sauce's nutritional profile and overpower the taste of tomato and basil. These ingredients suggest Bertolli's focus is on creating a shelf-stable, cost-effective product rather than delivering something that highlights the natural flavors of its ingredients.

Hunt's Traditional Pasta Sauce

Despite its widespread availability and affordability, Hunt's Traditional Pasta Sauce has several ingredients often associated with lower-quality jarred sauces. A significant concern is the use of high-fructose corn syrup, a cheap sweetener that, to many people's estimations, adds unnecessary sugars and calories. This ingredient is sometimes better or worse than table sugar, often used to balance acidity in tomato-based sauces. However, high-fructose corn syrup is cheaper than sugar so it can be used in higher quantities. Hunt's Traditional Pasta Sauce has six grams of sugar in total. This can result in an overly sweet sauce that strays from more balanced traditional Italian flavors.

Hunt also uses tomato puree as a primary ingredient, which can indicate the use of lower-quality tomatoes. That's because tomato puree is often made from reconstituted tomato paste, which may need more whole tomatoes' vibrant flavor and texture. These factors combined make Hunt's Traditional Pasta Sauce less appealing for those seeking an authentic and nutritious pasta sauce.

Superb Value Traditional Pasta Sauce

Walmart is known for having low prices on many grocery products, particularly with its in-house brand, Great Value. The store's take on pasta sauce is a budget-friendly option. Still, it also has several ingredients common in lower-quality pasta sauces you may wish to avoid, potentially landing it alongside some of the other unhealthiest foods from the Great Value brand. As with many sauces on this list, adding sugar is one of the primary issues. Great Value's Traditional Pasta Sauce contains three grams of added sugar (6% of the daily recommended value), contributing to 10 grams of sugar per half-cup serving. Generally, added sugar should be avoided wherever possible for those seeking a health-conscious lifestyle.

Another factor that has landed great value on this list is that the sauce is primarily made with tomato puree instead of whole tomatoes. This can result in a less fresh flavor experience. Additionally, Walmart's in-house brand of pasta sauce uses soybean oil. While economical, this oil does not offer the same flavor punch or health benefits as other higher-quality alternatives, like olive oil. This choice of ingredients reflects cost-cutting measures that, while they help consumers save money, ultimately compromise the taste and health benefits of the sauce.

Kroger Classic Tomato Traditional Pasta Sauce

Kroger's Classic Tomato Traditional Pasta Sauce is another convenient and readily available option that, unfortunately, utilizes several subpar ingredients. The sauce primarily uses tomato puree rather than whole tomatoes, suggesting it's made with lower-quality tomatoes and has a less fresh flavor than entire tomatoes. As with many brands, the sauce also contains added sugar. The result is increased calorie and sugar content (10 grams of sugar in just half a cup) and potentially added sweetness that takes away from the expected flavor of an authentic Italian tomato sauce.

Another significant concern with Kroger's take on pasta sauce is its use of soybean oil. Soybean oil is a cost-effective ingredient with a neutral flavor and a rather unimpressive nutritional profile. Paired with the other ingredients mentioned, it suggests the brand is concerned with cost-savings rather than producing the highest-quality product it can. Kroger Classic Tomato Traditional Pasta Sauce could appeal more to discerning pasta lovers.

Del Monte Traditional Pasta Sauce

Del Monte Traditional Pasta Sauce, typically sold for just under a few dollars per can, is a popular choice for many budget-conscious shoppers. However, like many wallet-friendly products, the sauce contains ingredients that suggest a lower-quality product. Firstly, high-fructose corn syrup, a common ingredient in low-quality products, is used due to its affordability and ability to impact flavor. Despite its economical nature, high-fructose corn syrup adds extra sugar and calories to the sauce, with eight grams of sugar in a half-cup serving (four grams of added sugars).

Soybean oil is another ingredient commonly used in low-quality sauces, and Del Monte is no different. These ingredient choices clearly show that Del Monte Traditional Pasta Sauce aims to offer a less expensive product than a highly high-quality one. However, while consumers may appreciate the savings, this brand may need to catch up with those seeking a more authentic and nutritious pasta sauce experience.

Good & Gather Traditional Pasta Sauce

Good & Gather Traditional Pasta Sauce is a part of Target's in-house brand of grocery products, some of which have garnered quite a lot of praise. This product is a steal for shoppers working with tight budgets at only a couple of dollars for 24 ounces of sauce. The brand also gets some points for eschewing artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. However, a few ingredients on the list may raise concerns for quality-concerned consumers. That's partly because Good & Gather's sauce contains added sugar, something many health-conscious shoppers should look for in any processed product.

Meanwhile, the precise oil used in the sauce is vague. The ingredients label indicates vegetable oil but reads "cottonseed oil and/or canola oil and/or soybean oil." This lack of specificity can be a significant drawback for consumers who are particular about the types of oil used in their food. The ambiguity suggests that the sauce could contain any of these oils, each potentially varying widely in flavor, nutritional profile, and quality. If its unrefined, cottonseed oil is one of the less desirable options of the three due to its high saturated fat content and potential for containing a toxin known as gossypol (refined cottonseed oil used in cooking does not contain this; however, Healthline). Canola and soybean oils, while more common, still are not as flavorful as the more traditional extra virgin olive oil.

Chef Boyardee Spaghetti Sauce with Meat

Chef Boyardee Spaghetti Sauce with Meat may evoke nostalgia for many, but the brand relies on several lower-quality ingredients. High-fructose corn syrup adds unnecessary sugars and calories, while the lack of transparency about the beef used raises concerns about meat quality and sourcing. Additionally, including carrots suggests the sauce uses minimal meat, relying on fillers to bulk up the product. While it may bring back childhood memories, those prioritizing ingredient quality might want to skip this option.

Barilla Traditional Basil Pesto Sauce

Barilla Traditional Basil Pesto Sauce aims to offer a convenient take on a classic Italian pasta sauce but needs more ingredient quality. Traditional pesto is made with olive oil, prized for its rich flavor and heart-healthy fats. However, Barilla's version uses sunflower oil, a less expensive alternative that lacks the same health benefits. The sauce also includes a "natural basil flavor," raising questions about basil content. Homemade might be worth the effort for a more authentic and healthy pesto.

Prego Homestyle Alfredo Sauce

Prego Homestyle Alfredo Sauce, marketed as a comforting and convenient option for Italian dinners, has several ingredient concerns. The type and quality of Parmesan cheese used are unspecified, suggesting a lower-quality product. Modified food starch, used as a thickening agent, offers little nutritional value and may be an issue for gluten-sensitive individuals. Those seeking a rich and authentic Alfredo experience might find freshly made options more satisfying.

Hunt's Meat Pasta Sauce

Like its traditional counterpart, Hunt's Meat Pasta Sauce contains high-fructose corn syrup, adding unnecessary sugars and calories. The sauce lists less than 2% meat content, labeled "meat flavored," with little information about the beef used. Additionally, hydrolyzed soy, corn, and wheat proteins indicate a highly processed product, which may not appeal to consumers looking for natural and wholesome ingredients.

Ragu Classic Alfredo Sauce

Ragu Classic Alfredo Sauce is an affordable and convenient addition to pasta, but its low cost is reflected in the ingredients. Soybean oil, the second ingredient, offers minimal flavor and health benefits. Modified corn starch, a joint thickening agent, is often found in highly processed foods. The label does not specify the type and quality of Parmesan cheese used, suggesting a lower-quality alternative. For a more flavorful Alfredo sauce, look for options with higher-quality ingredients.

Prego Traditional Italian Meat Sauce

Prego Traditional Italian Meat Sauce contains added sugars and canola oil, reflecting the brand's focus on affordability over quality. The type of beef used is unspecified, which may concern consumers who prioritize meat quality. Including ingredients like beef extract, dried beef stock, natural flavorings, and beef fat indicates a reliance on additives rather than higher-quality meat. A homemade Bolognese might be the better choice for a superior meat sauce.