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Pacific Beef Broth
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Canned soups

Pacific Beef Broth

32 oz

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Certified organic
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 62

Pacific Beef Broth scores 62 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Certified organic: Carries a certified-organic label. Info

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better broth, stock and bouillon

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Beef Broth

START100

Ingredients

  • Caramel color
    Regulatory The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. [1][2][3][4]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
subtotal−22.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added) and flavor enhancer. [5]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 0.5 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [6]
subtotal−1

Bonuses

  • Certified organic
    Info Carries a certified-organic label. [7][8]
subtotal+5
TOTAL 62Good

100 − 38 = 62

Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel color, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4]

GTIN 00052603054447 · 2025-02-11

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy4 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates0.4 g
Sugars0.4 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0 g
Protein0.9 g
Salt0.5 g

Serving: 8 OZA (240 ml)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

INGREDIENTS: ORGANIC BEEF STOCK, ORGANIC BEEF FLAVOR, SEA SALT, ORGANIC YEAST EXTRACT, ORGANIC CARAMEL COLOR, ORGANIC GARLIC, ORGANIC ONION POWDER, ORGANIC BLACK PEPPER.

Allergens and diets

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest canned soups in the US

More from Pacific

Sources

  1. Questions & Answers About 4-MEI

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 27, 2020 · Regulator

    “Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”

    fda.gov

  2. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  3. Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

    PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  4. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

  5. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  7. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · May 30, 2018 · Law

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  8. 7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Feb 17, 2010 · Law

    “Any agricultural product that is sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be: (a) Produced in accordance with the requirements specified in § 205.101 or §§ 205.202 through 205.207”

    ecfr.gov

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org