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Food

The Scary Reason You Should Never Eat Pasta Sauce From A Jar, According To Health Experts

June 7, 2021 by Justine Schwartz
shefinds | Food
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Family pasta night is so popular because it’s one of the most economical meals you can make. Buying a box of pasta and jar of pasta sauce will cost you less than $10 at the grocery store, and produce enough servings for your whole household for a couple days. Feeding your kids pasta with sauce is also one of those parenting survival tips, especially in the early years. And you don’t have to be a kid to appreciate the simplicity of this meal. Asides from the obvious high levels of sugars, sodium and carbohydrates, it is still a home-cooked dinner staple.

But before you add “jarred marinara sauce” to your grocery list for the week, just know that it can contain a small amount of live bugs–and still be totally approved by the FDA!

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Glass jar of homemade pasta sauce with fresh ingredients.

Fly Eggs And Maggots

Yes, you read that right, according to the standards put forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, jarred and canned pasta sauce and other tomato products can contain maggots or fly eggs to a certain degree and still be totally acceptable for sale and consumption in grocery chains across the U.S.

Their guidelines state that it's okay to have fly eggs and/or maggots in tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato puree, pasta sauce and pizza sauce.

In fact, it's acceptable and even normal to find 30 or more fly eggs per 100 grams of the stuff, or one maggot per 100 grams! Did you just lose your appetite? Same same.

Author:

Editorial Director

Justine Schwartz is a veteran women's lifestyle editor; she's written extensively about style & beauty tips, health advice and wedding planning. Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, Huffington Post and New York Weddings. Justine has been with SheFinds since 2010; you can reach her via email at Justine@shefinds.com.

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Woman enjoying a cup of spearmint tea
Variety of bread types displayed on a table
Freshly baked goods from Costco bakery
Woman holding her head, expressing concern or stress
Woman experiencing joint pain while holding her knee
Close-up of a vibrant food dish with colorful ingredients
Popular fast food brands: Dunkin', Chick-fil-A, Starbucks
Woman adding sugar to a steaming cup of coffee
Wooden board with bagels, blueberries, and butter
Comparing cooking spray and olive oil for cooking
Top view of Brazilian dish with rice, beans, and chicken
Checking watch while enjoying a healthy breakfast
Display of deli meats and sandwich products in grocery store
Delicious cooked salmon with rice, avocado, and greens.
Inside a bustling Costco store showcasing products.
Woman taking magnesium supplement for health benefits.
S'mores brownies and baked ricotta from Aldi's selection.
Grilled chicken breast served with crispy fries and salad.
Frozen pizza display in grocery store aisle
Plate of fried fish with crispy fries