Is Newman's Own Pasta Sauce Clean?

slug: is-newmans-own-sauce-clean

title: "Is Newman's Own Pasta Sauce Clean?"

teaser: "It's the only budget-friendly sauce that swaps seed oils for extra virgin olive oil and sugar for carrots."

category: condiments-sauces

subcategory: ketchup-mustard

verdict: clean

status: published

is_new: true

updated: 2026-02-25

tldr: >

Newman's Own is the best clean budget option on the shelf. Unlike most sauces in its price range, it uses 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead of soybean oil and naturally sweetens with carrot puree instead of high-fructose corn syrup. While it uses tomato paste rather than whole peeled tomatoes, it is significantly cleaner than competitors like Prego or Ragu.

key_findings:

• "No seed oils" — uses Extra Virgin Olive Oil exclusively.
• "No added sugar" — most formulas now use carrot puree for sweetness.
• "Conventional tomatoes" — the standard line is not organic (pesticide concern).
• "Texture" — relies on tomato puree (water + paste) rather than whole tomatoes.

sources:

• title: "Newman's Own Marinara Ingredients"

url: "https://www.newmansown.com/foods/marinara-pasta-sauce/"

type: brand-website

• title: "Newman's Own Organics Marinara"

url: "https://www.newmansown.com/foods/organic-marinara-pasta-sauce/"

type: brand-website

• title: "Prego Traditional Ingredients (Comparison)"

url: "https://www.campbells.com/prego/products/traditional/traditional-italian-sauce/"

type: brand-website

recommendations:

• name: "Organic Marinara"

brand: "Newman's Own"

verdict: recommended

note: "Certified organic tomatoes and no natural flavors."

• name: "Classic Marinara"

brand: "Newman's Own"

verdict: recommended

note: "The best budget buy—clean ingredients without the organic price tag."

• name: "Sockarooni"

brand: "Newman's Own"

verdict: acceptable

note: "Peppers and onions added; recently reformulated to remove added sugar."

related:

• is-raos-clean
• is-prego-clean
• sugar-in-pasta-sauce
• oils-in-salad-dressing

suggested_articles:

• title: "Is Classico Pasta Sauce Healthy?"

reason: "Another major budget competitor that readers often confuse with Newman's."

• title: "Why Is There Carrot Puree in Pasta Sauce?"

reason: "Deep dive into this natural sweetener vs cane sugar."

• title: "Tomato Paste vs Whole Tomatoes: Does It Matter?"

reason: "Explaining the nutritional and taste difference between sauce bases."

The Short Answer

Newman's Own is the People's Champion of clean pasta sauce.

It is one of the only "standard aisle" brands that completely avoids inflammatory seed oils and added sugars. While big names like Prego and Ragu pump their sauces with soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup, Newman's Own sticks to Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and uses carrot puree to cut the acidity.

It isn't perfect—the standard line uses conventional tomatoes (risk of pesticide residue) and "Tomato Puree" (water + paste) rather than whole peeled tomatoes. However, for a sauce that often costs under $4, it is exceptionally clean.

Why This Matters

Tomato sauce is a notorious hiding spot for sugar and seed oils. Brands know that tomatoes are naturally acidic, so they dump cheap sugar into the jar to make it palatable for American taste buds. They also swap traditional olive oil for cheap canola or soybean oil to save pennies.

Newman's Own breaks this rule. They use a clever trick: carrot puree. Carrots are naturally sweet and neutralize tomato acidity without spiking the glycemic load like cane sugar does.

If you can't afford Is Raos Clean|Rao'S ($8+) but refuse to eat Is Prego Clean|Prego ($2), Newman's Own is your safe middle ground.

What's Actually In It

The ingredient list for the standard Newman's Own Marinara is refreshing because of what isn't there.

• Tomato Puree — A mix of water and tomato paste. This creates a smoother, thicker sauce than premium brands that use whole tomatoes, but it's less processed than some competitors.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil — The gold standard. No soybean, canola, or sunflower oil. Oils In Salad Dressing
• Carrot Puree — The secret weapon. Used to balance acidity naturally without adding refined sugar.
• Citric Acid — A common preservative and acidifier. While generally safe, some purists prefer lemon juice.
• Dried Onions & Garlic — Standard for shelf-stable sauces.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "Extra Virgin Olive Oil" — It should be the only fat listed.
• "No Added Sugar" — Check the nutrition label. Total sugars should come from the tomatoes (usually 5-7g).
• "Organic" Seal — Their organic line guarantees non-GMO ingredients and no synthetic pesticides.

Red Flags:

• "Natural Flavor" — Found in some specific varieties like "Roasted Garlic." The basic Marinara usually avoids this.
• "Sausage" or "Meat" Flavors — These varieties often introduce additives, sugar, and lower quality meats. Stick to the veggie flavors.

The Best Options

Newman's Own has a wide range. Here is how they stack up.

The Bottom Line

1. Buy the Marinara or Sockarooni. These are the cleanest formulas in their lineup.

2. Check for "No Added Sugar." Newman's has reformulated most sauces to remove sugar, but old stock might still linger.

3. Upgrade to Organic if you can. For an extra dollar, you avoid pesticide concerns associated with conventional tomatoes.

FAQ

Is Newman's Own processed?

Minimally. It uses tomato paste (processed tomatoes) rather than fresh whole tomatoes, but it avoids ultra-processed additives like high fructose corn syrup and industrial seed oils.

Does Newman's Own have seed oils?

No. This is its biggest selling point. Newman's Own uses Extra Virgin Olive Oil, unlike Prego, Ragu, and Classico, which often use soybean or canola oil.

Is Sockarooni sauce healthy?

Yes. Sockarooni is essentially their marinara with added peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It has recently been reformulated to remove added sugar, making it a great veggie-packed option.