Is Prego Pasta Sauce Clean?

The research is complete. I have all the necessary ingredient and nutritional data to evaluate Prego Pasta Sauce according to the "Crunchy" standards.

Key Data Points:

• Product: Prego Traditional Italian Sauce
• Ingredients: Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Diced Tomatoes, Sugar, Canola Oil, Salt, Dried Onions/Garlic, Spices, Citric Acid.
• Red Flags: Added sugar (4g per serving), Canola oil (seed oil), "Tomato Puree" (water + paste) as the first ingredient.
• Nutrition: 9-10g total sugar (4g added), ~480mg sodium.
• Comparison: Significantly sweeter and more processed than premium brands like Rao's (which use olive oil and no sugar).
• Nuance: Prego does offer a "Farmers' Market" line that is cleaner (olive oil, no sugar), which is worth noting as a "better" option within the brand.

I will now write the article following the specific markdown format and voice.

slug: is-prego-clean

title: "Is Prego Pasta Sauce Clean?"

teaser: "America's best-selling pasta sauce is packed with added sugar and cheap seed oils."

category: condiments-sauces

subcategory: ketchup-mustard

verdict: avoid

status: published

is_new: true

updated: 2026-02-25

tldr: >

Prego Traditional is not a clean option. It relies on canola oil instead of olive oil and contains 4g of added sugar per serving—essentially the "soda of pasta sauces." While it is gluten-free and vegan, the base is reconstituted tomato paste rather than whole tomatoes.

key_findings:

• "4g of added sugar per serving (1 teaspoon)"
• "Uses Canola Oil instead of Olive Oil"
• "Primary ingredient is water + tomato paste"
• "Contains roughly 480mg of sodium per serving"

sources:

• title: "Prego Traditional Ingredients"

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

type: brand

• title: "Rao's vs Prego Ingredient Comparison"

url: "https://www.thetakeout.com/why-does-raos-cost-more-than-prego/"

type: article

• title: "Seed Oil Health Concerns"

url: "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6196963/"

type: study

recommendations:

• name: "Rao's Homemade Marinara"

brand: "Rao's"

verdict: recommended

note: "The gold standard: Italian whole tomatoes, olive oil, and no added sugar."

• name: "Farmers' Market Tomato & Basil"

brand: "Prego"

verdict: acceptable

note: "Prego's only decent line—uses olive oil and no added sugar."

• name: "Traditional Italian Sauce"

brand: "Prego"

verdict: avoid

note: "Packed with sugar, water, and canola oil."

related:

• is-raos-clean
• sugar-in-pasta-sauce
• is-raos-worth-it
• jarred-vs-homemade-sauce

suggested_articles:

• title: "Is Classico Pasta Sauce Clean?"

reason: "Readers often compare Prego to Classico as the other budget option."

• title: "Is Barilla Pasta Sauce Healthy?"

reason: "Another major competitor in the low-cost pasta sauce aisle."

• title: "Best Sugar-Free Pasta Sauces for Kids"

reason: "Parents specifically buy Prego for the sweetness; they need alternatives."

The Short Answer

No, Prego Traditional is not clean. It receives an Avoid rating because it uses canola oil instead of olive oil and contains significantly high levels of added sugar.

While it is affordable and accessible, Prego achieves its signature sweet taste by adding 4 grams of sugar (about 1 teaspoon) to every half-cup serving. Additionally, the first ingredient is tomato puree (water mixed with tomato paste), meaning you are paying for reconstituted paste rather than fresh, whole crushed tomatoes.

Why This Matters

Real Italian marinara requires only four things: tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Prego fails this basic standard. By substituting heart-healthy olive oil with inflammatory canola oil, they degrade the nutritional value of the sauce to save money.

The sugar content is the biggest shock. A standard pasta dinner often uses more than one serving of sauce. If you use a cup of Prego, you are consuming 8 grams of added sugar—that’s roughly the same amount of sugar as two Oreo cookies—poured right over your dinner. Sugar In Pasta Sauce

What's Actually In Prego Traditional

Prego’s ingredient list reveals it is a highly processed product designed for shelf stability and sweetness rather than nutrition.

• Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste) — The primary ingredient. Instead of whole tomatoes, they use water mixed with concentrated paste. This lacks the texture and nutrient profile of fresh tomatoes.
• Sugar — The third ingredient. Added to mask the acidity of cheap tomatoes and addict the palate.
• Canola Oil — A highly processed industrial seed oil. It is cheaper than olive oil but high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which can be inflammatory. Is Canola Oil Bad
• Dried Onions & Garlic — Dehydrated powders rather than fresh aromatics.
• Citric Acid — A preservative used to regulate acidity, often derived from corn mold.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Olive Oil — The only oil that should be in pasta sauce.
• Whole/Crushed Tomatoes — Should be the first ingredient, not "water."
• No Added Sugar — Tomatoes are naturally sweet; they don't need help.

Red Flags:

• "Vegetable Oil" or Canola/Soybean Oil — A sign of cost-cutting at the expense of health.
• Sugar/Cane Sugar — Unnecessary empty calories.
• Water as a top ingredient — You're buying watered-down tomato paste.

The Best Options

If you need a jarred sauce, you don't have to spend $10, but spending a little more than Prego usually gets you a significantly cleaner product.

The Bottom Line

1. Avoid Prego Traditional. The combination of canola oil and added sugar makes it one of the least healthy options on the shelf.

2. Upgrade to Rao's or similar. Brands like Rao's, Victoria, or Lucini use olive oil and no sugar. Raos Vs Newmans Own

3. Check the "Farmers' Market" label. If you must buy Prego, their "Farmers' Market" line is actually acceptable, but double-check the label to ensure it hasn't been reformulated.

FAQ

Does Prego have high fructose corn syrup?

No. Prego Traditional uses regular table sugar, not HFCS. However, the metabolic effect of 4g of added sugar is still a concern for a savory dinner dish.

Is Prego gluten-free?

Yes. Prego Traditional Italian sauce is gluten-free. However, always check labels on other varieties like "Alfredo" or "Meat" sauces, which may contain thickeners or fillers.

Which Prego sauce is the healthiest?

The Prego Farmers' Market line is the cleanest option. Unlike the Traditional line, the Farmers' Market variety typically uses olive oil and contains no added sugar, making it comparable to higher-end brands.