HEINZ MAYONNAISE — FAR FROM HOMEMADE™

Information updated April 2024

Mayonnaise is the #1 condiment in the U.S.

HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE: Let’s start as we usually do by looking at the homemade version so we have something with which to compare the packaged brands.

The ingredients for homemade mayonnaise are simple >> Eggs and/or Egg Yolks, Lemon, Vinegar, Salt and Pepper plus an oil like Olive or Avocado. Sometimes people add Mustard, too!

Q: Kraft Heinz states this product is “Crafted to be more like Homemade” . . . so, HOW DOES HEINZ MAYONNAISE COMPARE TO HOMEMADE?

Heinz Mayonnaise is banned at Whole Foods because it contains the chemical Calcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid.

(Source for ingredients: Kraft Heinz Heinz Web site 4/24; Source for banned ingredients: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 4/24; Source for preservatives: U.S. FDA 2024)

Soybean Oil is the #1 ingredient in Heinz Mayonnaise. This mayonnaise also includes other things we would never use at home to make mayonnaise from scratch like FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative, Sugar and commercial Natural Flavor.

Q: Does that sound like a mayonnaise which “is made with the highest quality ingredients”?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 2024, 94% of U.S. Soybeans are GMO >> genetically modified organisms.

“NATURAL FLAVOR” ARE A NOT IN KITCHEN INGREDIENT: According to The Environmental Working Group 2024, “Added flavoring, both natural and artificial, could contain anywhere from 50 to 100 ingredients. The mixture will often have some solvent and preservatives - and that makes up 80 to 90 percent of the volume (of the flavoring) . . . it still has artificial ingredients.”

“In a database of over 80,000 foods, ‘natural flavors’ is actually the fourth most common ingredient used in processed food. The only ingredients that come before it? Salt, water and sugar.”

HEINZ MAYONNAISE IS BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET: Kraft Heinz’s Heinz Mayonnaise is banned at Whole Foods Markets because of one of the other NIK ingredients >> the chemical Calcium Disodium EDTA >> this seemingly innocuous acronym stands for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid and the ingredient is cited by Whole Foods as “Unacceptable in food”. (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 4/24)

MAYONNAISE COMPARISON: Let’s compare Kraft Heinz’s Mayonnaise to Unilever’s Hellmann’s/Best Foods Mayonnaise. (Sources: Unilever Hellmann’s + Best Foods Web sites 4/24) Note: Hellmann's Mayonnaise (East Coast) and Best Foods Mayonnaise (West Coast) are the same mayonnaise product.

Heinz Mayonnaise contains basically the same ingredients as Unilever Hellmann’s/Best Foods Mayonnaise . . . follow the leader.

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE COMPARISON: Let’s compare the Heinz Mayonnaise to one of the Closest To Homemade® brands, Non-GMO Project Verified Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayonnaise. (Source: Kraft Heinz Primal Kitchen Web site 4/24)

Both of these brands are owned by Kraft Heinz.

HEINZ MAYONNAISE: The Heinz Mayonnaise (above left) is Far From Homemade >> Heinz Mayonnaise contains Oil from Soybeans, Water, Added Sugar, Water and the unpronounceable, man-made, laboratory chemical preservative Calcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid.

KRAFT HEINZ’S PRIMAL KITCHEN MAYONNAISE: The Primal Kitchen Mayonnaise (above right) has no ingredients Not In Kitchen >> these are all ingredients we could have in our kitchens if we were making Mayonnaise at home.

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE: The Mayonnaises certified as Closest To Homemade have no added Sweeteners (except one which has added Honey), Colors, Flavors, Gums, Soybean Oil, Canola Oil or Chemical Preservatives. They are made with one or more of the following: Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, and/or Mid to High Oleic Safflower Oil or Sunflower Oil. (Sources for ingredients: Brand Web sites 4/24)

*Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list*

Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories:

Closest To Homemade® Master List

Closest To Homemade Chosen Foods Classic Mayo is Certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project.

Q: WHAT DOES GLYPHOSATE RESIDUE FREE MEAN? What is glyphosate?

A: In its most simple explanation, Glyphosate is a known carcinogenic, man-made crop chemical with multiple properties designed to work in tandem with GMO or Genetically Modified Crop Organisms >> both the Glyphosate and the plant seeds are made by the chemical companies.

Consuming glyphosate has been linked to numerous serious health issues and the use of glyphosate is directly responsible for multiple environmental tragedies. (Sources: USDA, Dr. Stephanie Seneff at MIT, Dr. Don Huber, The Detox Project and The Non-GMO Project)

Learn more about glyphosate and other toxic chemicals in our food supplies plus solutions for personal in-home testing at The Detox Project here:

THE DETOX PROJECT

For additional information on Glyphosate and GMOs, consider watching the Ingredient Inspector video on YouTube on High Fructose Corn Syrup; 94% of U.S corn crops are GMO:

high fructose corn syrup

IDEAL MAYONNAISE STORAGE: Since mayo contains oil and all oils are very “fragile” in that, when exposed to oxygen, they begin to slowly break down and ultimately become rancid. Oils which can initially be beneficial can become harmful over time.

OXIDATION TAKING PLACE IN THE MAYONNAISE: It’s like when you cut an apple open and it will turn brown within a short period of time >> that is happening with the oil but you cannot see it. If you have space in your refrigerator, use it to store all mayo (unopened + opened) to slow the oxidation process. Keep the lid off for as short a period as possible when using the mayo.

In the world of mayonnaise:

AVOID: GMO oils (esp. soybean, corn, cottonseed + canola), added flavors, GMO sugar, chemical preservatives, modified food starch, reduced fat or low fat versions (they have even more ingredients Not In Kitchen), plastic containers.

SEEK: Healthier oils like organic extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, organic pasture-raised eggs, Himalayan salt, organic honey or organic cane sugar or non-GMO organic sugar (if there is a sweetener), glass containers.

NOTE: Many Mayonnaises, like Unilever's Hellmann’s/Best Foods (below) made with Olive Oil which says “with Olive Oil” on the front of the jar (but the “with” is in tiny type you may not see) >> they may ALSO contain other cheaper oils like Soybean as Hellman's/Best Foods. Please check the ingredients. (Sources: Unilever Hellmann’s + Best Foods Web sites 4/24)