Green pestos
Trader Joe's Basil Pesto Sauce
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 44
Trader Joe's Basil Pesto Sauce scores 44 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7 points Salt 2.4 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better pesto
-
Basil Pesto Stir in Sauce Private Selection · 30 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Pesto Sauce Trader Joe's Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 89 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto Trader Joe's · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Basil Pesto Sauce Wegmans · 6.7 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 75 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
Basil pesto 365 Everyday Value · 6.5 oz/185 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 76 out of 100 , 32 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Basil Pesto Sauce
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 2.4 g / 100 g minus 7 points
100 − 56.5 = 43.5 → 44
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Fat | 36.7 g |
|---|---|
| Saturated fat | 5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6.7 g |
| Sugars | 3.3 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.7 g |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Salt | 2.4 g |
Serving: 0.25 cup (60 g)
Ingredients
- BASIL
- SUNFLOWER SEED OIL
- OLIVE OIL
- PINE NUTS
- HARD CHEESE (MILK, SALT, MICROBIAL RENNET)
- PARMIGIANO REGGIANO CHEESE (MILK, SALT, ANIMAL RENNET)
- PECORINO ROMANO CHEESE (SHEEPS MILK, SALT, ANIMAL RENNET)
- GLUCOSE (high concern)
- SALT
- GARLIC
- LACTIC ACID
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- CORNSTARCH
Label text, as published
BASIL, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, OLIVE OIL, PINE NUTS, HARD CHEESE [MILK, SALT, MICROBIAL RENNET], PARMIGIANO REGGIANO CHEESE (MILK, SALT, ANIMAL RENNET], PECORINO ROMANO CHEESE (SHEEPS MILK, SALT, ANIMAL RENNET), GLUCOSE, SALT, GARLIC, LACTIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS, CORNSTARCH
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Tree nuts
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More green pestos on GoodSwap
-
Basil Pesto Kirkland Signature · 624 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatSeed-oil free Score 75 out of 100 Good -
Rustic Basil Pesto Barilla · 6.5 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains seed oils Score 60 out of 100 Good -
Classic Pesto Classique Filippo Berio · 6.7 oz High in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 54 out of 100 Okay -
Traditional Basil Pesto Sauce & Spread Classico · 8.1 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains seed oils Score 60 out of 100 Good -
Pesto Sauce Priano · 6.7 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 54 out of 100 Okay -
Simply Pesto Traditional Basil Delallo · 6.35 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 71 out of 100 Good
More from Trader Joe's
-
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Finely Shredded Lite Mexican Style Cheese Blend Trader Joe's · 12 oz Score 75 out of 100 Good -
Thai Green Curry with tofu sheets, vegetables and Jasmine Rice Trader Joe's · 11.28 oz (320 g) Score 54 out of 100 Okay
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org