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Pantry · Product label guide

Canned tomatoes: compare ingredients, then choose.

Updated

Compare whole, diced, crushed, and strained tomatoes and tomato paste.

The short answer

Our picks for canned tomatoes

Top of the shelfJovial Organic Strained Tomatoes, Jovial Organic Tomato Paste, and Pomì Organic Strained Tomatoes each score 100/100. 15 products tie at 100; these 3 have the shortest labels. Use Compare by in the table to separate the rest.

Also strongJovial Organic Crushed Tomatoes (100), Jovial Organic Diced Tomatoes (100), and Jovial Organic Italian Crushed Tomatoes (100).

Clear noNone. Nothing scored here lists any of the nine groups we check, so there’s no additive to rule out. We also can’t vouch for the 12 products without a verified current label; treat them as “not yet”.

Ranked from 37 of 49 products with current labels. Every product is in the table below; a score reflects labels and claims, not nutrition, allergies or safety.

Compare the recorded labels

Find the ingredients that matter to you.

49 of 49 products

“No …” columns: None found on the label · Listed on the label · Unknown. Diet fit: Fits · Doesn’t fit · Unknown (rules; not medical advice). Claims: verified · not established. Default: most check marks first; not a health score.

Compare product claims and recorded ingredients. Click a column heading to sort.
Buy
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicBuy on Amazon ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicBuy on Amazon ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicBuy on Amazon ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicProduct details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicProduct details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicProduct details →5
100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organicFind where to buy ↗Product details →5
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claimProduct details →4
How the clean score works

No setup needed, and strict: a full 100 needs every additive group clear and a verified organic claim (animal foods also need a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim; wild seafood and salt, which have no USDA organic standard, are scored without the organic points, and plant-based milks, cheeses and proteins without the feeding claim). Points: the nine additive groups (seed oils, artificial dyes, MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, banned-abroad additives) share 60 points equally — not found earns a group’s full share, “may contain” earns half, listed earns 0; a verified organic claim is worth 25; a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim is worth 15 and counts only for animal foods. No claim, or an expired or unverified claim, earns nothing, so products without those claims cannot reach 100. Unverified or expired ingredient labels receive no score. Equal scores are equal. Ties are ordered by brand. Unknown and stale evidence never passes “Only show matches.” Producer claims and prices do not affect this score. This is not a nutrition, allergy, or safety rating.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying links do not influence ingredient results. “Buy on Amazon” opens a reviewed product listing; “Find where to buy” opens the maker’s page. Confirm the package, seller, stock, and current price before checkout. Price observations expire after 30 days.

The full guide · Pantry

Choosing canned tomatoes: what to check before you buy

Match the tomato format to your dish: whole, diced, crushed, strained or paste. Check whether the can includes herbs, salt or other vegetables, and whether you want pieces that keep their shape or a smooth sauce base.

Compare sodium and package amounts within the same format. Citric acid and calcium chloride can serve acidity and firmness roles; choose around your recipe rather than assuming every added ingredient has the same purpose.

What the labels on this shelf show

We track 49 products from 23 brands on the canned tomatoes shelf. 37 have a complete, current ingredient label on record (76%), which is what lets us score them. The other 12 stay unscored until the maker publishes a full label; a missing label is “not yet”, never a pass.

Of the 37 scored labels, 37 (100%) list none of the nine additive groups we check, so on additives alone the whole scored shelf is clear. 15 scored products carry a verified organic claim, which adds points. Scores here run from 71 to 100, and the typical label lists 5 ingredients.

What to compare

Tomato format
Match whole, diced, crushed, strained or paste to your dish.
Seasoning and sodium
Check salt, herbs and other additions in the exact recipe.
Texture ingredients
Calcium chloride can help pieces stay firm; choose according to your cooking use.
Package amount
Compare the amount of tomato product within the same format.

The best picks, in detail

These are the highest-scoring canned tomatoes products on current labels. 15 products tie at 100, so we put the shortest ingredient lists first; Always match the exact flavor and package before you buy.

  1. Jovial Organic Strained Tomatoes 100/100

    Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, a verified organic claim. Label: “Organic Strained Tomatoes.”

    Find where to buy ↗Maker’s label source
  2. Jovial Organic Tomato Paste 100/100

    Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, a verified organic claim. Label: “Organic Tomato Paste.”

    Find where to buy ↗Maker’s label source
  3. Pomì Organic Strained Tomatoes 100/100

    Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, a verified organic claim. Label: “ORGANIC TOMATOES”

    Find where to buy ↗Maker’s label source
  4. Jovial Organic Crushed Tomatoes 100/100

    Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, a verified organic claim. Label: “Organic Tomatoes, Organic Tomato Puree.”

    Buy on Amazon ↗Maker’s label source
  5. Jovial Organic Diced Tomatoes 100/100

    Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, a verified organic claim. Label: “Organic Tomatoes, Organic Tomato Puree.”

    Buy on Amazon ↗Maker’s label source
  6. Jovial Organic Italian Crushed Tomatoes 100/100

    Why it ranks here: no tracked additive group on the label, a verified organic claim. Label: “Organic tomatoes, organic tomato purée.”

    Find where to buy ↗Maker’s label source

What to skip, and why

No scored label lists any of the nine groups, so there is no additive to rule out.

The 12 products without a verified label are a separate “not yet”: we have no recorded ingredient list to check, so we cannot say they are clean or flagged.

Your preferences, explained

The clean score is strict and needs no setup: nine additive groups not found in a current ingredient statement, plus a verified organic claim (and a grass-fed or pasture-raised claim for animal foods), are needed for 100; a possible match earns half and a missing claim earns nothing. Missing or expired evidence stays unknown. It does not assess nutrition, allergies, contaminants, or safety.

References

  1. Bisphenol A (BPA): use in food contact applications U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  2. Vegetables and fruits Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  3. Organic labeling and what the USDA Organic seal means USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
  4. Sodium in your diet U.S. Food and Drug Administration

An ingredient check is not a nutrition, contaminant, allergy or safety assessment. How we verify labels →