Pastas
H-E-B Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
125 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 50
H-E-B Four Cheese Pasta Sauce scores 50 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
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Four Cheese Pasta Sauce 365 Whole Foods Market · 25 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Four Cheese Pasta Sauce Full Circle Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
4 Cheese Pasta Sauce Simple Truth Organic · 25 oz/708 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 97 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
CREAMY MARINARA with Mascarpone Cheese Rao's Homemade · 24 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Four Cheese Rao's Homemade · 24 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 78 out of 100 , 28 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Yeast extract 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
- Sugars 4.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 50.5 = 49.5 → 50
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 56 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 2 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Sugars | 4.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 2.4 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 0.5 cup (125 g)
Ingredients
- CRUSHED TOMATOES (WATER, CONCENTRATED CRUSHED TOMATOES)
- TOMATOES (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE)
- SAUTEED ONIONS (ONIONS, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL)
- ROMANO CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES)
- PARMESAN CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES)
- SALT
- PROVOLONE CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES)
- RICOTTA CHEESE (WHEY, PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, VINEGAR, SALT)
- DRIED GARLIC
- SUGAR (high concern)
- CITRIC ACID
- SPICES (INCLUDES BASIL)
- DRIED ONION
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT
Label text, as published
CRUSHED TOMATOES (WATER, CONCENTRATED CRUSHED TOMATOES), TOMATOES (TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SAUTEED ONIONS (ONIONS, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL), ROMANO CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), PARMESAN CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), SALT, PROVOLONE CHEESE (PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), RICOTTA CHEESE (WHEY, PASTEURIZED COW'S MILK, VINEGAR, SALT), DRIED GARLIC, SUGAR, CITRIC ACID, SPICES (INCLUDES BASIL), DRIED ONION, NATURAL FLAVOR, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More pastas on GoodSwap
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Mac & Cheese Kraft · 7.25 oz (206 g) Ultra-processedHigh in saltSeed-oil freeNo synthetic dyes Score 57 out of 100 Okay -
Tomato & Basil Bertolli · 2040 g Contains added sugarsSeed-oil free Score 61 out of 100 Good -
Beef Merlot Healthy Choice · 9.5 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Al bronzo spaghetti noodles Barilla · 14.1 oz No additives Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Penne Multigrain Pasta Bettergoods · 12 oz Certified organicNo additivesContains whole grains Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Thick & creamy macaroni & cheese Great Value · 7.25 oz/206 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltNo synthetic dyes Score 50 out of 100 Okay
More from H-E-B
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
-
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
-
“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