Sauces
Rao's Italian sausage & mushroom sauce
24 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 36
Rao's Italian sausage & mushroom sauce scores 36 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sausage and cured meats: IARC classifies processed meat (cured, salted, smoked or fermented) as Group 1, based on colorectal cancer; each 50 g eaten daily is linked to an 18% higher risk. Regulatory
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better pasta sauces
-
Rao’s Homemade Marinara Rao's Homemade · 15.5 oz/440 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Prego - Fresh mushroom italian sauce Prego Not ultra-processed · No sausage and cured meats Score 72 out of 100 , 36 points higher -
Garlic Basil Classic Italian Style Pasta Sauce Signature Select · 24 oz/680 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 84 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Authentic Italian Marinara Pasta Sauce Bettergoods · 24 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Portabello Mushroom Organic Pasta Sauce Muir Glen · 23.5 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 58 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Rao's Italian sausage & mushroom sauce
Ingredients
- Sausage and cured meats minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.6 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 0.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 64.5 = 35.5 → 36
Can’t score above 79. Contains sausage and cured meats, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 88 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 6.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.8 g |
| Sugars | 3.2 g |
| Added sugars | 0.3 g |
| Fiber | 0.8 g |
| Protein | 3.2 g |
| Salt | 0.8 g |
Serving: 0.5 cup (125 g)
Ingredients
- Italian whole peeled tomatoes (peeled tomatoes, tomato puree, basil leaf, salt, citric acid [acidity regulator])
- mushrooms
- cooked italian sausage (pork, spices, water, salt, sugar, paprika, garlic powder, flavorings) (high concern)
- olive oil
- onions
- salt
- garlic
- basil
- citric acid
- black pepper
- oregano
Label text, as published
Italian whole peeled tomatoes (peeled tomatoes, tomato puree, basil leaf, salt, citric acid [acidity regulator]), mushrooms, cooked italian sausage (pork, spices, water, salt, sugar, paprika, garlic powder, flavorings), olive oil, onions, salt, garlic, basil, citric acid, black pepper, oregano
Allergens and diets
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More sauces on GoodSwap
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Original Sloppy Joe Sauce Manwich · 15 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugars Score 43 out of 100 Okay -
Spicy Chili Crisp Laoganma · 7.41 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 26 out of 100 Poor -
Red Enchilada Sauce Old El Paso · 10 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsNo synthetic dyes Score 46 out of 100 Okay -
Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce Patak's · 15 oz/425 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 47 out of 100 Okay -
Veri Veri Teriyaki Soy Vay · 21 oz High in sugarHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 42 out of 100 Okay -
Arrabbiata organic pasta sauce O Organics · 25 oz/709 g Contains added sugarsCertified organicNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 72 out of 100 Good
More from Rao's
Sources
-
IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat (Press Release No. 240)
“Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.”
iarc.who.int
-
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
-
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
-
“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