Pantry
Canned tomatoes
Canned tomatoes are picked ripe and processed within hours, which is why they beat out-of-season fresh tomatoes on both flavour and lycopene. Check for added salt and nothing else.
Organic upgrade priority
Residue data does not apply
- →Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to this food in the same way.
Key numbers
- Nutrient density
- 80/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $2.29
- per 28 oz can · organic +44%
- Servings a week
- 2.3
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
What to look at instead
Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to canned tomatoes the way it does to fresh produce. These are the measures that actually decide the purchase.
- Lycopene vs fresh
- Higher
- Heat processing makes lycopene more bioavailable, not less
- Sodium
- 180 mg per 1/2 cup
- No-salt-added cans are widely stocked
- BPA
- Check the can
- Most major U.S. brands moved to non-BPA linings; tomatoes are acidic enough that the question was raised here first
- Cost per serving
- $0.76
Nutrition
Per 1/2 cup (121 g).
22
calories
1.1 g
protein
1.2 g
fiber
180 mg
sodium
- Lycopene (heat-concentrated)
- Vitamin C 12% DV
- Potassium 6% DV
Buying and storing
- ◆Whole peeled tomatoes crushed by hand cost less than diced and have better texture — diced tomatoes are treated with calcium chloride to keep their shape, which stops them breaking down into a sauce.
- ◆Glass jars sidestep the can-lining question entirely if it bothers you, at roughly 30% more per serving.
Common questions
›Is canned tomatoes a healthy choice?
Canned tomatoes are picked ripe and processed within hours, which is why they beat out-of-season fresh tomatoes on both flavour and lycopene. Check for added salt and nothing else. A 1/2 cup (121 g) serving provides 22 calories, 1.1 g protein, and 1.2 g fiber, scoring 80/100 on nutrient density.
›Does canned tomatoes need to be organic?
Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to canned tomatoes the way it does to fresh produce, so this site does not assign an organic upgrade priority. The label buys you a defined set of production standards rather than a measurable change in residue evidence.
›What can I buy instead of canned tomatoes?
If the organic version is out of budget or the fresh price has spiked, Tomatoes cover similar ground on this list. Each one is either lower on residue evidence, cheaper per serving, or both.