HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH SALAD DRESSING — FAR FROM HOMEMADE™

Information updated June 2023

Ranch is by far the #1 salad dressing in the U.S. (Source: Statista 2023)

If Ranch is your favorite, take a look at what’s in the leading ranch dressings and then see which brands are Closest To Homemade®.

HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSING: Owned by the cleaning-centric The Clorox Company, Hidden Valley Ranch is the #1 brand of Ranch dressing in the U.S. (Source: Statista 2023)

The popularity of Hidden Valley Ranch dressings is no surprise given that the majority of The Clorox Company’s Hidden Valley Ranch products contain added sugar and the notorious flavor enhancer Monosodium Glutamate (a.k.a. MSG). Source for ingredients: The Clorox Company Hidden Valley Ranch Web site 6/23

HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSING HAS FIVE INGREDIENTS BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS. The banned ingredients include MSG, Sorbic Acid, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate. Water is the #2 or #3 ingredient and Sugar is the #4 or #5 ingredient. (Source for Hidden Valley ingredients: The Clorox Company Hidden Valley Web site 6/23; Source for banned ingredients: Whole Foods Web site 6/23)

Seen below, HIDDEN VALLEY LIGHT RANCH DRESSING IS BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET AND IS FAR FROM HOMEMADE: With six ingredients banned at Whole Foods, Hidden Valley Light Ranch has numerous commercial ingredients including Artificial Flavor, Natural Flavor, MSG, Sweeteners, Thickening Agents, multiple Flavor Enhancers, FDA-recognized Chemical Preservatives and Commercial Emulsifiers. (Source for Hidden Valley ingredients: The Clorox Company Hidden Valley Web site 6/23; Source for banned ingredients: Whole Foods Web site 6/23; Source: FDA 2023)

ALL OF THE CLOROX COMPANY’S HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSINGS ARE BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET. Multiple items in Hidden Valley Ranch dressings are cited as “Unacceptable in food” by Whole Foods Market who bans products which contain these ingredients like MSG, Artificial Flavor, Sorbic Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate and Calcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid. (Source for banned ingredients: Whole Foods Web site 6/23)

HIDDEN VALLEY FAT FREE RANCH >> THE FIRST FIVE INGREDIENTS ARE WATER, BUTTERMILK, CORN SYRUP, MALTODEXTRIN AND SUGAR. This Fat Free Hidden Valley Ranch (below) is higher in sugar than the base brand and the Light version and contains five ingredients which are banned at Whole Foods Market including Artificial Color, MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate and Calcium Disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid.

If we purchase Hidden Valley Fat Free Ranch Dressing we are paying for water and sweeteners + multiple flavor enhancers + artificial color + multiple chemical preservatives.

Imagine what a delicious, healthier and less expensive Ranch dressing we could make ourselves at home from scratch. Yum!

Seen below, HIDDEN VALLEY SIMPLY RANCH DRESSING IS FAR FROM HOMEMADE.

Hidden Valley Simply Ranch contains 9 ingredients which are Not In Kitchen when making Ranch dressing at home from scratch >> Water is the #1 ingredient in this salad dressing >> have you ever put Water into a creamy homemade salad dressing? Soybean Oil is the #2 ingredient >> have you ever purchased Soybean Oil for your home kitchen? The Hidden Valley Simply Ranch Buttermilk dressing contains other Not In Kitchen ingredients like added Sugar, Commercial Natural Flavors, Corn Starch, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Natamycin and Mixed Tocopherols.

HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH SIMPLY RANCH BUTTERMILK DRESSING HAS ERRONEOUS INFORMATION REGARDING ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES ON THE WEB SITE + THE BOTTLE. The Web site states, “no artificial preservatives”, yet the dressing contains multiple preservatives, two of which are FDA-recognized chemical preservatives. (Sources: Hidden Valley Ranch Web site 6/23; U.S. FDA 2023)

According to the FDA 2023, Citric Acid and Tocopherols are both recognized as commercial chemical preservatives . . . but the Hidden Valley Web site + Bottle state “No Artificial Preservatives”.

ADDED SWEETENERS ARE FOUND IN MANY RANCH DRESSINGS. Although we would not add Sugar to a homemade Ranch dressing, many mass-produced commercial dressings contain added Sugar to enhance the taste and increase the odds of repeat purchases. (Sources: Brand Web sites and Walmart Web site 6/23)

See below the oil used in each of these Ranch dressings:

Seen below, CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSINGS: These delicious Ranch Dressings have no added Flavors, Colors, Artificial Preservatives or MSG >> Tessemae’s line of organic, Dairy-free Ranch dressings which are certified Gluten-Free made with Organic Cage-Free Eggs and Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil (they’re in the refrigerated section) and Non-GMO Project verified and certified Gluten-Free Chosen Foods Ranch Dressing & Marinades made with Avocado Oil. (Sources: Brand Web sites 6/23)

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

Closest To Homemade® Master List

See what’s in Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning in a Rapid Review:

hidden valley seasoning

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