Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce: Labelgrade C+ (67/100)
C+ 67 / 100 — Very low saturated fat and notable sugar load.
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Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce delivers 2g of protein and 80 calories per 1/2 cup (USDA FDC 2111867). Per 100g that’s 1.6g of protein; per oz, 0.5g. The Labelgrade is C+ (67 / 100): Very low saturated fat and notable sugar load.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | D | 52 / 100 | 1.6g per 100g — below the high-protein bar; not the right product for protein hunting |
| Ingredient quality | B- | 72 / 100 | 13 ingredients, recognizable, no significant additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g saturated fat — perfect |
| Sodium load | C+ | 69 / 100 | 350mg per serving (79mg per oz) — moderate |
| Sugar load | C- | 56 / 100 | 11g sugar; USDA omits the added-sugar line, but the ingredients list a sweetener — scored as added, not naturally-occurring |
| Fiber | F | 36 / 100 | 1g per serving — modest fiber contribution |
| Overall | C+ | 67 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 25% · ingredients 22% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 12% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Per 100 g | Per oz | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce (this product) | 2g | 1.6g | 0.5g | 80 |
| Classico Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce | 2g | 1.6g | 0.5g | 50 |
| Ragu Old World Style Traditional Sauce | 2g | 1.6g | 0.5g | 80 |
| Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce | 2g | 1.6g | 0.5g | 80 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | — | 31g | 8.8g | ~165 |
Low sodium, high sugar: a real trade-off
Bertolli is the most interesting of the three traditional jars to grade, because it gets the hardest dimension right and the easiest one wrong. Sodium is the universal weak spot for jarred sauce — most of the aisle runs 450–480mg per half cup — and Bertolli comes in at 350mg, the lowest of this group and a genuine point in its favor. If sodium is your main concern (say you’re cooking for blood pressure), this is the better-behaved jar of the bunch, and at a realistic full-cup portion the gap is real: about 700mg here versus roughly 960mg from a 480mg-per-serving sauce.
The catch is sugar, and it’s the opposite story. At 11g per 1/2 cup, Bertolli carries the most added sugar of the mainstream traditional sauces we grade — a notch above Prego (10g), several grams over Ragu (8g), and nearly triple a no-sugar marinara. Sugar is a named ingredient on the label, so this isn’t just tomato sweetness; the recipe is built sweet. That single number is why the sauce lands at C+ rather than riding its low sodium into the B range. The honest read: Bertolli trades sodium for sugar relative to its rivals, so the “better” jar depends entirely on which of the two you’re trying to avoid.
A diced-tomato sauce, with a calcium quirk
Unlike a smooth, puree-first sauce, Bertolli leads with diced tomatoes in juice as its first ingredient, with tomato puree second. That gives it a chunkier, fresher-tomato character — closer to a quick homemade sauce than a fully blended one — and it’s the basil-forward, brighter profile the name promises. The diced-tomato base brings one small surprise on the panel: 40mg of calcium per serving, double what Ragu or Prego report. The reason is right there in the ingredient list. The diced tomatoes are firmed with calcium chloride, a standard canning aid that helps the pieces hold their shape; a side effect is a little extra calcium. It’s not a meaningful source — you’re not eating this for the calcium — but it explains the otherwise-odd number.
Beyond that, the list is clean and recognizable: tomatoes, basil, sugar, extra-virgin olive oil, onions, salt, garlic, spices, natural flavors, plus the citric acid and calcium chloride from the tomatoes. There are no preservatives, colors, or thickeners to flag, which is why ingredient quality still scores a respectable B-. As with the rest of the category, the grade isn’t about anything alarming in the jar — it’s about where the sugar lands.
Scope
This page covers Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce (24 oz/680 g), UPC 036200219317, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 2111867. Bertolli sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
DICED TOMATOES IN JUICE [DICED TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE (FIRMING AID), CITRIC ACID], TOMATO PUREE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE). BASIL, SUGAR, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, ONIONS, SALT, GARLIC, SPICES, NATURAL FLAVORS.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 1/2 cup
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1/2 cup) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 80 |
| Protein | 2g |
| Total Fat | 2g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 13g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Total Sugars | 11g |
| Sodium | 350mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Calcium | 40mg |
| Iron | 0.725mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Tomato & Basil Sauce (24 oz/680 g) · UPC 036200219317. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains no listed animal products
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce healthy?
It's a fair everyday jar with one clear trade-off. The good news is sodium: at 350mg per 1/2 cup it's the lightest of the big traditional jars (Ragu and Prego both sit at 480mg). The catch is sugar — 11g per 1/2 cup is the most of this group. It's fat-free and only 80 calories, so in a normal portion it's fine; the sugar is the line to watch.
Why does Bertolli Tomato & Basil Sauce score C+ (67/100)?
A jarred tomato sauce is graded mainly on sugar and sodium, since protein and fiber are always low. Bertolli's 350mg sodium is actually its best dimension (a C+, better than its rivals), but 11g of added sugar drags the sugar score down to a C-, and 1g of fiber scores an F. The sugar is what keeps it just below the B- jars; otherwise the low sodium would have carried it higher.
Why does Bertolli have 11g of sugar?
Sugar is listed as a named ingredient (after the tomatoes, basil, and oil), so a good share of the 11g per 1/2 cup is added rather than tomato sugar alone. Bertolli's 'Tomato & Basil' recipe runs sweet, and 11g is the highest of the mainstream traditional jars we grade — a couple grams above Prego (10g) and several above Ragu (8g) or a no-sugar marinara (~4g).
Is 1/2 cup the amount I'll actually use?
Usually not. The labeled 1/2 cup (125g) is on the small side for a plate of pasta, which tends to take closer to a full cup of sauce. At that real portion you're near 160 calories, ~22g sugar, and 700mg sodium. Bertolli's lower sodium helps here — 700mg is well under what you'd get from a 480mg-per-serving jar — but the sugar roughly doubles too.
Which pasta sauce has less sugar than Bertolli?
Most of them, since Bertolli has the most sugar of this group. For the biggest drop, a no-added-sugar marinara like Rao's (graded here) lists no sweetener and runs about 4g of sugar per 1/2 cup versus Bertolli's 11g, grading B-. If you specifically want low sugar and low sodium together, that's the better pick.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-05, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 2111867. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.