Pasta sauces
Classico Four Cheese Sauce
24 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 47
Classico Four Cheese Sauce scores 47 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 3 points Sugars 4.8 g / 100 g: Contains some sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better pasta sauces
-
Four Cheese Pasta Sauce 365 Whole Foods Market · 25 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Four Cheese Pasta Sauce Full Circle Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Four Cheese Rao's Homemade · 24 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 78 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
4 Cheese Pasta Sauce Simple Truth Organic · 25 oz/708 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 97 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
CREAMY MARINARA with Mascarpone Cheese Rao's Homemade · 24 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Four Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Calcium chloride minus 2.5 points
- Gum arabic (acacia) minus 2.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 1.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 4.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 53.5 = 46.5 → 47
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 48 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Sugars | 4.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0.8 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 1.6 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 0.5 cup (125 g)
Ingredients
- TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE)
- DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM CHLORIDE)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- SALT
- PARMESAN CHEESE (CULTURED PART-SKIM MILK, SALT, ENZYMES)
- ROMANO CHEESE MADE FROM COW'S MILK (CULTURED PART SKIMMED COW'S MILK, SALT, ENZYMES)
- DEHYDRATED GARLIC
- PROVOLONE CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES)
- GRANULATED ONION
- RICOTTA CHEESE (MILK, VINEGAR, SALT)
- OLIVE OIL
- PASTEURIZED MILK
- SKIM MILK
- HEAVY CREAM (FROM MILK)
- SPICES
- GUM ARABIC
- XANTHAN GUM
- LACTIC ACID
- CHEESE CULTURES
- BUTTER (CREAM, SALT)
- SODIUM PHOSPHATE
- ENZYMES
Label text, as published
TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM CHLORIDE), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SUGAR, SALT, PARMESAN CHEESE (CULTURED PART-SKIM MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), ROMANO CHEESE MADE FROM COW'S MILK (CULTURED PART SKIMMED COW'S MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), DEHYDRATED GARLIC, PROVOLONE CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), GRANULATED ONION, RICOTTA CHEESE (MILK, VINEGAR, SALT), OLIVE OIL, PASTEURIZED MILK, SKIM MILK, HEAVY CREAM (FROM MILK), SPICES, GUM ARABIC, XANTHAN GUM, LACTIC ACID, CHEESE CULTURES, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), SODIUM PHOSPHATE, ENZYMES
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Glass
Context only: no points in v1.
More pasta sauces on GoodSwap
-
Traditional Prego · 45 oz Contains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 64 out of 100 Good -
Flavored with Meat Italian Sauce Prego · 24 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsSeed-oil free Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce Classico · 24 oz Seed-oil free Score 87 out of 100 Excellent -
Tomato Basil Garlic Pasta Sauce Great Value · 24 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 47 out of 100 Okay -
Old World Style Traditional Sauce Ragu · 45 oz (1.27 kg) Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo additives Score 64 out of 100 Good -
Pasta Sauce Traditional Hunt's · 680 g Ultra-processedContains added sugars Score 55 out of 100 Okay
More from Classico
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
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
-
“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