Brands Of Guacamole That You May Want To Avoid

A recent study conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) indicates that some popular brands of guacamole contain only trace amounts of avocado, the health-promoting fruit that has traditionally served as the main ingredient in authentic guacamole recipes.

This finding is a terrible shame, since guacamole made with real avocados is one of the healthiest dips that we can eat. Avocados are abundant in vitamin E, lutein (extremely important for preserving eyesight), potassium, and dietary fiber. Avocados are also rich in healthy fats, which are essential to allowing our bodies to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin A.

Which popular brands of guacamole tested poorly for real avocado content?

1. Guacamole dip made by Kraft - was found to contain mostly water, partially hydrogenated soybean and coconut oil, corn syrup, whey protein concentrate, modified food starch, potato, and salt.

Total real avocado content: less than 2 percent.

2. Herr's guacamole - was found to contain mostly skim milk, corn oil, modified food starch, tomato paste, and salt.

Total real avocado content: none. Herr's guacamole contains only avocado powder, which is outweighed by artificial ingredients like yellow #5 and blue #1. Yellow and blue make green, you know.

Dean's, Marie's, and T. Marzetti's brands of guacamole were also found to contain extremely small amounts of real avocado.

These findings are especially troublesome for brands like Herr's, Marie's, and T. Marzetti's, which proudly display pictures of real avocados on their labels.

Instead of suffering the consequences of eating highly processed versions of guacamole, why not get into a habit of making your own? Making a delicious guacamole dip is super simple to do, and requires only a handful of fresh ingredients. My favorite guacamole recipe can be found here:

Unforgettable Guacamole Recipe

If you're pressed for time and would like to buy a commercial brand of guacamole, choose one that lists avocados as the first ingredient. Examples of such brands include Trader Joe's, AvoClassic, and Yucatan.