O Organics pasta sauce comes in second out of 12 in taste test

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos.’ O Organics Marinara Pasta Sauce took second place in a field of 12 competitors in a pasta sauce taste test sponsored by the Chicago Tribune’s Food & Dining section, defeating seven national brands, including Kraft Heinz Classico Reserva Marinara, Newman’s Own Marinara, Prego Italian Sauce Traditional, Old World Style Ragu Traditional, Barilla Marinara Sauce, Hunts Pasta Sauce Traditional and General Mills’ Muir Glen Organic Classic Marinara Pasta Sauce.

The O Organics sauce “won kudos for its chunky texture and a warm spice note that offset its sweetness to a degree,” wrote author Bill Daley in the article titled “Who Makes the Best Jarred Pasta Sauce?” 

Two other store brand sauce SKUs were sampled and ranked among the top half of the contenders: Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value Organic Marinara Pasta Sauce came in fourth, while Trader Joe’s Trader Giotto’s Traditional Marinara Sauce tied for sixth place.

The first place winner was Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce by New York-based Rao’s Specialty Foods.