pastaZara Durum Wheat Semolina Penne Rigate Pasta
Red flags
No major red flags on the label.
Green flags
- +Green flag: High protein (12.5g per 100g)
- +Green flag: Source of fibre
- +Green flag: No added sugar
Ingredients, decoded
1 listed- Durum Wheat Semolina
Our take
CleanPlate reviewItalian durum pasta: 12.5 g protein, 3.5 g fibre
pastaZara Durum Wheat Semolina Penne Rigate Pasta is a 500 g Italian-made pack of dried penne made from durum wheat semolina only. The panel is printed per 100 g.
CleanPlate scores it DA1. The D for nutrition is low: only 12.5 g protein and 3.5 g fibre per 100 g and little else credited. The A for ingredients reflects a mix of whole and refined ingredients (led by durum wheat semolina), and almost no additives. The 1 for risk is low: sodium, free sugar and saturated fat are all modest (sodium 2 mg, free sugar 0 g, saturated fat 0.3 g per 100 g).
Claims vs reality
What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
- On the packHolds
“Pasta made with Durum Wheat Semolina”
Durum wheat semolina is the only ingredient.
- Product nameHolds
“Penne Rigate”
Ridged penne, as the pack shows.
How DA1 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.
Low nutrient density
- Protein
- 12.5 g
- Fibre
- 3.5 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 350 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.
Clean, minimally processed
- Base
- Durum Wheat Semolina
- Sweeteners
- None added
- Additives
- 0
- Flagged
- None
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Clean
- Added sugar
- 0 g
- Sodium
- 2 mg
- Saturated fat
- 0.3 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?
Durum wheat semolina.
Per 100 g: 350 kcal, 1.2 g fat of which 0.3 g saturated, 3.2 g sugar of which 0 g added, 3.5 g fibre, 12.5 g protein, 2 mg sodium. The listing shows protein 12 g; the pack reads 12.5 g and is used. Trans fat (under 0.001 g) and cholesterol (under 1 mg) are printed as limits and are not stored.
Ingredients to watch
- ProteinWorth watching
12.5 g per 100 g, half credited as wheat protein.
- IngredientsFine
Durum wheat semolina only.
- Sodium and sugarFine
2 mg sodium and no added sugar per 100 g.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "Italian pasta is healthier"
It is the same wheat and the same panel as the other plain durum pastas here.
Myth: "Pasta has hidden sugar"
3.2 g total sugar per 100 g, none added.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsA few times a week
- ChildrenOccasionally
- Diabetes or prediabetesOccasionally
Smarter ways to eat it
Add vegetables
Fibre is 3.5 g per 100 g; vegetables lift it.
Use a protein side
Beans, paneer or egg balance the plate.
Common questions
Is pastaZara Durum Wheat Semolina Penne Rigate Pasta healthy?
pastaZara Durum Wheat Semolina Penne Rigate Pasta scores DA1 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. We found no major red flags on its label. On the plus side: High protein (12.5g per 100g); Source of fibre; No added sugar.
What does the DA1 score mean?
The first letter (D) grades nutritional value: low nutrient density. The second letter (A) grades ingredient and label integrity: clean, minimally processed. The number (1) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): clean.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.