Old El Paso Thick & Chunky Salsa Mild — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Old El Paso Thick & Chunky Salsa Mild by Old El Paso OKAY — score 62/90.

A real-vegetable salsa base — tomato, onion, pepper — with just a little added sugar, salt and citric acid. Not clean enough to call great, but nowhere near engineered junk.

Why this verdict

• Over 85% of the jar is real tomato, onion and green pepper
• Added sugar is present but minor — well down the list, ~1g per serving
• Salt drives ~190mg sodium per 2-tbsp serving
• Only one true additive (citric acid); no artificial colors, flavors or emulsifiers

Ingredients (14)

• Tomato (61%) (safe) — Whole-food base, source of lycopene and potassium.
• Onions (16%) (safe) — Real vegetable, adds prebiotic fiber and flavor compounds.
• Green peppers (10%) (safe) — Whole vegetable, vitamin C.
• Tomato paste (safe) — Concentrated tomato — a real-food component of the sauce.
• Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
• vinegar (safe) — Mild preservative and flavor enhancer.
• Onion Flakes (safe) — Dehydrated onion, no additives.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• ONION POWDER (safe) — Dried aromatic for flavor.
• lemon juice concentrate (safe) — Concentrated lemon juice for acidity and flavor.
• Guajillo pepper (0.5%) (safe) — Real chili for mild heat and flavor.
• GARLIC POWDER (safe) — Real seasoning.
• Spices (safe) — Real seasoning — the flavor comes from spices, not additive flavor systems.
• Citric acid (acidity regulator) (safe) — Common, harmless acidity regulator used to control pH and texture.

Healthier alternatives

• H-E-B Fresh Guacamole - Mild
• Tabasco Premium Salsa
• Simply Nature Organic Thick & Chunky Salsa (Medium)
• Simple Truth Organic Medium Salsa
• Salsa