Food
Rao's Homemade Bacon Alfredo
15 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 14
Rao's Homemade Bacon Alfredo scores 14 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Bacon: 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 alfredo and cream sauces
-
Four Cheese Alfredo Rao's Homemade · 15 oz No nitrites or nitrates · No added sugars Score 60 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Creamy Spinach Alfredo Sauce Sonoma Gourmet · 15.5 oz/439 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 65 points higher -
Carbone Alfredo Carbone · 15 oz No nitrites or nitrates · No added sugars Score 57 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Roasted Garlic Alfredo Rao's Homemade · 15 oz No nitrites or nitrates · No added sugars Score 57 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Classic Alfredo Sauce Ragu · 16 oz (454 g) Less salt · Less saturated fat Score 54 out of 100 , 40 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Rao's Homemade Bacon Alfredo
Ingredients
- Bacon minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Cultured celery powder (natural nitrite source) minus 7.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 9.7 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 177 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 86 = 14
Can’t score above 79. Contains bacon, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 177 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 16.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 9.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.6 g |
| Sugars | 1.6 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 4.8 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 1 portion (62 g)
Ingredients
- Light Cream (cream, milk)
- Water
- Butter (cream, natural flavor)
- Parmesan Cheese (part-skim milk, cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Romano Cheese (milk, cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Enzyme Modified Egg Yolk
- Uncured Bacon Bits (pork, sea salt, sugar, celery juice powder, natural smoke flavor, cherry juice powder) (high concern)
- Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (milk, salt, rennet)
- Black Pepper
- White Pepper
- Sea Salt
- Modified Food Starch
- Disodium Phosphate
- Xanthan Gum
Label text, as published
Light Cream (cream, milk), Water, Butter (cream, natural flavor), Parmesan Cheese (part-skim milk, cultures, salt, enzymes), Romano Cheese (milk, cultures, salt, enzymes), Enzyme Modified Egg Yolk, Uncured Bacon Bits (pork, sea salt, sugar, celery juice powder, natural smoke flavor, cherry juice powder), Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (milk, salt, rennet), Black Pepper, White Pepper, Sea Salt, Modified Food Starch, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Egg, Celery
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”
eur-lex.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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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