Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce by M&P OKAY — score 60/90.

A genuinely simple jarred sauce built on real tomatoes, onions and olive oil. Two added sugars and refined rapeseed oil keep it from being clean, but there's nothing engineered here.

Why this verdict

• Tomatoes lead at 76% with a short, recognizable ingredient list
• No artificial colors, flavors, emulsifiers or modified starches
• Sugar appears twice (Demerara + plain sugar), nudging it sweeter than it needs to be
• Refined rapeseed oil is cut in alongside the olive oil to cut cost
• Minimally processed (NOVA 3), close to homemade

Ingredients (11)

• Tomatoes (76%) (safe) — The real base of the sauce, whole tomatoes deliver lycopene, potassium and fiber.
• Onions (safe) — Whole vegetable; prebiotic fiber and antioxidants.
• Tomato Puree (safe) — Concentrated tomato, just thickens and intensifies, no concern.
• Olive oil (4%) (safe) — Good monounsaturated fat, but only a small 4% drizzle.
• rapeseed oil (moderate) — Refined frying oil; drives the calorie density of the chip.
• demerara sugar (moderate) — Added sugar, barely less refined than white, still empty calories.
• Garlic Puree (safe) — Real garlic, flavor and a small nutritional plus.
• Salt (moderate) — Added sodium for flavour.
• black pepper (safe) — Simple spice, no concern.
• basil (safe) — Real herb, the namesake flavor.
• Sugar (concerning) — Added refined sugar, listed high - spikes blood sugar with no nutrition.