Pace Chunky Salsa (Medium): Labelgrade C+ (66/100)
C+ 66 / 100 — Very low saturated fat, effectively zero sugar, and high sodium per 100mL.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →The short answer
Pace Chunky Salsa, Medium delivers 0g of protein and 9.9 calories per 2 Tbsp (USDA FDC 1926808). Per 100mL that’s 0g of protein; per fl oz, 0g. The Labelgrade is C+ (66 / 100): Very low saturated fat, effectively zero sugar, and high sodium per 100mL.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | D | 50 / 100 | 0g per 100mL — below the high-protein bar; not the right product for protein hunting |
| Ingredient quality | B- | 72 / 100 | 9 ingredients, recognizable, no significant additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g saturated fat — perfect |
| Sodium load | F | 27 / 100 | 230mg per serving (227mg per fl oz) — high; structural for cured/preserved foods |
| Sugar load | A | 92 / 100 | 2g sugar, no added sugar listed |
| Fiber | D | 53 / 100 | 0.99g per serving — modest fiber contribution |
| Overall | C+ | 66 / 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pace Chunky Salsa, Medium (this product) | 0g | 0g | 0g | 9.9 |
| Herdez Salsa | 0g | 0g | 0g | 4.96 |
| Wholly Classic Guacamole, Classic | 0.999g | 3.3g | 0.9g | 60 |
| Sabra Classic Hummus, Classic | 4g | 7g | 2g | 150 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | — | 31g | 8.8g | ~165 |
Why a C+ here is genuinely good news
The grade needs context or it reads wrong. Our scorecard evaluates a food as nutrition — it weights protein density and sodium heavily — and by that yardstick a tomato condiment with no protein and added salt is always going to sit in the C range. That’s an accurate score for what the formula measures. It is not a verdict that salsa is a poor choice.
Judge Pace by its calories instead. Two tablespoons is 10 calories, zero fat, 2g of sugar — and it turns plain food into something you actually want to eat. That trade is one of the best in the entire grocery store. The honest bottom line: salsa is a smart, near-free way to add flavor to healthy meals, and Pace does that job well. The only reason it isn’t graded higher is that it brings no protein and no real fiber to the table — it’s a flavor tool, not a source of nutrition. Held to that standard, a C+ is a compliment.
A near-free flavor multiplier — just mind the sodium and the chips
Where Pace earns its keep isn’t the chip bowl — it’s everywhere else. Because a serving costs only 10 calories, salsa is one of the cheapest ways to rescue a bland, healthy meal: stir it into scrambled eggs, spoon it over grilled chicken or fish, dump a few tablespoons onto brown rice or a baked potato, or use it as a no-oil sauce for a taco bowl. Every one of those upgrades adds flavor and a little tomato for a caloric rounding error. If a tool helps you eat more lean protein and vegetables because they taste better, that’s a real win that the grade alone doesn’t capture.
Two practical cautions keep it honest. First, sodium: at 230mg per 2 Tbsp, salsa is the salty part of an otherwise innocent food, so if you use it heavily and watch your salt, account for it. Second, the chips are the real calories. A bag-and-jar session is overwhelmingly a chip-calorie session — an ounce of tortilla chips is roughly 140 calories, fourteen times the salsa it carries, and the ounce never stays an ounce. Use Pace as a topping more than a dip, lean on raw vegetables when you do dip, and the math stays firmly in your favor.
Scope
This page covers Pace Chunky Salsa, Medium (15 oz/425 g), UPC 013949795579, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 1926808. Pace 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)
CRUSHED TOMATOES (WATER, CRUSHED TOMATO CONCENTRATE). JALAPEND PEPPERS, DICED TOMATOES IN TOMATO JUICE, FRESH ONIONS, DISTILLED VINEGAR, DEHYDRATED ONIONS, SALT, GARLIC, NATURAL FLAVORING.
Where to buy
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 2 Tbsp
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (2 Tbsp) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 9.9 |
| Protein | 0g |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 3g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.99g |
| Total Sugars | 2g |
| Sodium | 230mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Pace, Chunky Salsa, Medium (15 oz/425 g) · UPC 013949795579. 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 Pace salsa healthy?
Yes — salsa is one of the smartest low-calorie things you can put on your plate, and Pace is no exception. Two tablespoons is just 10 calories with no fat and 2g of sugar, because it's mostly tomatoes, jalapeños, and onions. Spoon it over eggs, chicken, tacos, or rice and you add a lot of flavor for almost nothing. It won't give you protein or much fiber, so it's a flavor booster rather than a nutrient source — but for that job it's genuinely one of the best condiments in the aisle.
Why does Pace only grade C+?
Because our scorecard grades food as nutrition, and salsa is a condiment, not a nutrient source. Pace has no protein, so the protein-density line scores low, and jarred salsa carries real sodium — 230mg per 2 Tbsp here — which scores an F on the sodium dimension. Those two facts cap it at C+. Don't read that as 'bad': a fat-free, 10-calorie tomato condiment is a great thing to reach for. The C+ just reflects that it isn't a source of the nutrients the scorecard rewards.
What's the difference between Pace's mild, medium, and hot?
Heat, mostly — the jalapeño level — not nutrition. Across Pace's mild, medium, and hot Chunky Salsa, the calorie, fat, sugar, and sodium numbers are essentially the same; you're choosing for your spice tolerance, not for a healthier macro. This medium version is the middle of the three. So pick the heat you'll actually enjoy on your food, and judge the nutrition the same way for all of them: great low-calorie flavor, with sodium as the one line to watch.
What's a serving, and do the calories stay low in practice?
A serving is 2 Tbsp — 10 calories. The salsa stays low however much you use; even a half-cup is under 50 calories. What doesn't stay low is the chips. Tortilla chips run about 140 calories an ounce and almost nobody stops at an ounce, so a chips-and-salsa session is mostly a chip-calorie session. The salsa is the free part of the snack; the chips are the real calories.
How can I keep the sodium down?
Pace lands at 230mg of sodium per 2 Tbsp — meaningful, though not the highest jarred salsa out there. To keep it in check, use salsa as a topping on already-cooked food rather than as a dip (you'll naturally use less), pair it with raw vegetables instead of salted chips to cut the chips' sodium, or choose a 'no salt added' salsa and brighten it with fresh lime. If you want a slightly lower-sodium jarred option, Old El Paso's medium salsa comes in at 190mg.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-05, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 1926808. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days of a reformulation.