Food
California Pizza Kitchen Caesar dressing
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 31
California Pizza Kitchen Caesar dressing scores 31 out of 100 (Poor) 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 7.5 points Sodium benzoate: Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better pizza
-
Roasted Mushroom Vicolo Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Classic Cheese Pizza Home Run Inn · 128 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Against The Grain GF Three Cheese Pizza Against the Grain · 680 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Shells And Cheese Pizza Velveeta · 309 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Nut-Free Pesto Pizza Against the Grain · 14.3 oz/405 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Caesar dressing
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Sodium benzoate minus 7.5 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 1.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points
- Calcium disodium EDTA minus 0.5 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 6.7 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.6 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 400 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 69 = 31
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [15]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 43.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 6.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Salt | 1.6 g |
Serving: 1 portion (30 ml)
Ingredients
- vegetable oil (canola, soybean oil)
- water
- romano cheese (milk, culture, salt, enzymes)
- distilled vinegar
- egg yolk
- dried garlic
- parmesan cheese (part skim milk, culture, salt, enzymes)
- sugar (high concern)
- anchovy paste (anchovies, salt, water)
- salt
- parmesan cheese flavor (parmesan cheese, water, skim milk powder, disodium phosphate, salt)
- spice
- lemon juice concentrate
- xanthan valuegum
- dried onion
- sodium benzoate (moderate concern)
- potassium sorbate and calcium disodium edta (to protect quality). 17%
Label text, as published
vegetable oil (canola and/or soybean oil), water, romano cheese (milk, culture, salt, enzymes), distilled vinegar, egg yolk, dried garlic, less than 2% of parmesan cheese (part skim milk, culture, salt, enzymes), sugar, anchovy paste (anchovies, salt, water), salt, parmesan cheese flavor (parmesan cheese [milk, culture, salt, enzymes], water, skim milk powder, disodium phosphate, salt). worcestershire sauce (distilled vinegar, molasses. sugar, water, salt, anchovy, onion, garlic, clove. tamarind extract, natural flavoring, chile pepper extract), spice, lemon juice concentrate, xanthan valuegum, dried onion, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and calcium disodium edta (to protect quality). 17% contains: egg, anchovy, milk. 20 10% manufactured by: litehouse, inc. sandpoint, id 83864 cpk is a registered trademark of california pizza kitchen, inc., and used under license ts 3% loaded with romano and parmesan cheese for a creamier take on a classic caesar. scan here or call 1-515-800-9006 for more food information. 03:0 w tm shake well refrigerate
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Egg, Fish
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from California Pizza Kitchen
Sources
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of benzyl alcohol (E 1519) as food additive (records the 2016 benzoate re-evaluation)
“derived a group ADI of 5 mg/kg bw per day (expressed as benzoic acid) in accordance with the ADI previously derived by SCF and JECFA”
doi.org
-
“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
-
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
-
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
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“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