Is Simply nature thick & chunky salsa Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist looking at this label, the ingredient list for Simply nature thick & chunky salsa is remarkably clean and straightforward. The base consists of organic diced tomatoes, organic tomato puree, and fresh vegetables like organic onion and organic green bell peppers. These provide the texture and savory flavor profile without any animal involvement.

The spices are also plant-based, featuring organic jalapeño peppers, organic garlic, organic cumin powder, and organic chipotle pepper powder. These ingredients give the salsa its kick and depth of flavor. However, the one ingredient that requires a closer look is organic cane sugar.

The flag on this product is the organic cane sugar. In the United States, some white sugars are processed using bone char (charred animal bones) to achieve that pure white color and fine texture. While organic sugar is less likely to use this specific method (often using carbon filtration instead), it is not guaranteed to be 100% vegan unless explicitly certified. For strict vegans, this is the only potential dealbreaker in an otherwise plant-based recipe.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Simply nature thick & chunky salsa is an excellent choice. It is very low in calories, with a typical serving containing fewer than 10 calories. It contains virtually no fat, making it a guilt-free addition to meals.

The organic cane sugar is present in a very small amount, likely just to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. You are not consuming significant sugar or carbohydrates by adding this to your plate. It fits well into weight loss diets, keto diets (due to low net carbs), and heart-healthy diets because it is low in sodium compared to many jarred salsas.