WHAT'S IN HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH DRESSING?
HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH SALAD DRESSING — FAR FROM HOMEMADE™
Information updated June 2025
Ranch is by far the #1 salad dressing in the U.S. (Source: Statista 2025)
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 2025)
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 6/25; Source for banned ingredients: Whole Foods Web site 6/25)
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 6/25; Source for banned ingredients: Whole Foods Web site 6/25; Source: FDA 2025)
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 6/25)
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.
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 6/25)
See below the oil used in each of these Ranch dressings:
Here’s a comparison of Whole Foods 365 Ranch Dressing Regular vs. Light:
Seen below, CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSINGS: These delicious Ranch Dressings have no added Flavors, Colors, Artificial Preservatives, MSG or Sweeteners >> Tessemae’s Organic line of Dairy-free Ranch dressings which are certified Gluten-Free and Non-GMO Project verified 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 Glyphosate Free Chosen Foods Classic Ranch Dressing & Dip made with Avocado Oil. (Sources: Brand Web sites 6/25)
Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list
Seen below, two more CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSINGS: Appalachian Naturals made with local Buttermilk and Non-GMO Sunflower Oil and Non-GMO Project verified and certified Gluten Free Organicville Non-Dairy Ranch Dressing made with Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil. (Sources: Brand Web sites 6/25)
Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list
Following is a comparison of Hidden Valley Ranch to Tessemae’s Organic Creamy Ranch:
Discover more food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 300+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.
See what’s in Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning:
Follow us at:
And, as always, a couple of old print ads to see what was happening way back when . . .
