Del MonteSauces & Ketchup#9 of 23 in categoryRating 2.3/5

Del Monte Pizza & Pasta Sauce

Del Monte Pizza & Pasta Sauce spout pack, front view

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (16.8g per 100g)
  • Red flag: High sodium (1355mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

13 listed
  • Tomato Paste (41%)
  • Water
  • Liquid Glucose
  • Sugar
  • Iodized Salt
  • Edible Vegetable Oil (Soyabean Oil)
  • Spices and Condiments (Spices, Herbs and Spice Extract)
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Thickeners (INS 1422, INS 415)
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 260, INS 330)
  • Potato Powder
  • Preservative (INS 211)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

EB4

Nutrition per 100 g
ENutritionBIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy169.2 kcal
Protein4.9 g
Carbohydrates28.1 g
Total sugars18.8 g
Added sugars16.8 g
Total fat4.1 g
Saturated fat0.8 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium1355 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Tomato first, then glucose, sugar and salt

Del Monte Pizza & Pasta Sauce is a spout-pack sauce of tomato paste (41%), water, liquid glucose, sugar, iodised salt, soyabean oil, spices, onion, garlic and potato powder, with two thickeners, two acidity regulators and a preservative (sodium benzoate). The pack is 400 g and the panel is printed per 100 g.

CleanPlate scores it EB4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The B for ingredients reflects a mix of whole and refined ingredients (led by tomato paste, liquid glucose and sugar), with additives that cost points: acetylated distarch adipate and xanthan gum. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (1355 mg per 100 g) and free sugar (16.8 g per 100 g).

How EB4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
4.9 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
169 kcal

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
B

Good, few concerning additives

Base
Tomato Paste
Main fat
Edible Vegetable Oil
Sweeteners
Liquid Glucose, Sugar
Additives
5
Flagged
Sodium Benzoate

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
16.8 g
Sodium
1355 mg
Saturated fat
0.8 g
Trans fat
0 g

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Tomato paste (41%), water, liquid glucose, sugar, iodised salt, soyabean oil, spices and condiments, onion, garlic, thickeners (1422, 415), acidity regulators (260, 330), potato powder and preservative (211); only the tomato paste has a share.

Per 100 g: 169 kcal, 4.1 g fat of which 0.8 g saturated, 18.8 g sugar of which 16.8 g added, 4.9 g protein, 1355 mg sodium. The pack prints no allergen statement, and the veg mark is not visible on the images. No fibre or cholesterol line.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1355 mg per 100 g, about 68% of the day's limit.

  • Free sugarConcern

    16.8 g of added sugar per 100 g, from both liquid glucose and sugar.

  • Preservative and thickenersWorth watching

    Sodium benzoate (211) and modified starch (1422) are listed.

  • Tomato firstFine

    Tomato paste is 41% and the oil is soyabean oil, with no colour listed.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Pizza sauce is just tomato"

Two sugars follow the tomato paste in the list, and 16.8 g of added sugar sits in every 100 g.

Myth: "The spout pack keeps it fresher"

It does protect the sauce, but the sodium benzoate in the list is what preserves it.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Mix with fresh tomato

Blend a spoon of sauce with chopped fresh tomato to cut the sugar and salt per serving.

Spread thin

A thin layer on a base is enough; a 15 g serving carries about 200 mg of sodium.

Common questions

Is Del Monte Pizza & Pasta Sauce healthy?

Del Monte Pizza & Pasta Sauce scores EB4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High added sugar (16.8g per 100g); High sodium (1355mg per 100g); Contains Sodium Benzoate.

What does the EB4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (B) grades ingredient and label integrity: good, few concerning additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Del Monte Pizza & Pasta Sauce should I watch?

Preservative (INS 211) (Sodium Benzoate).

Last reviewed October 11, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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