Most Processed Frozen Pizza Brands
Frozen pizza combines multiple processed components — a dough with conditioners, a sauce with stabilizers, processed cheese with emulsifiers, and toppings with preservatives. Each layer adds its own additive load, making most frozen pizzas Level 4 with 30-50+ total ingredients.
Frozen Pizza at a Glance
15 Most Processed Frozen Pizza Brands
Brands ranked by highest average processing score across all their products in this category.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Totinos | 92 | 26.6 4.9 | 92 | 0 |
| 2 | Sasquatch pizza co. | 11 | 24.8 3.5 | 11 | 0 |
| 3 | Exceptional value | 15 | 24.1 3.8 | 15 | 0 |
| 4 | Mr.ps | 11 | 23.7 4.1 | 11 | 0 |
| 5 | Fsi | 6 | 23.7 3.3 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | Hill country fare | 7 | 23.0 3.6 | 7 | 0 |
| 7 | Armour | 5 | 22.7 2.8 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | Fly guys pizza | 5 | 22.0 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | 4 hands brewing co. | 5 | 21.4 4.0 | 5 | 0 |
| 10 | Parade | 6 | 21.3 4.3 | 6 | 0 |
| 11 | Shoppers value | 33 | 21.1 4.6 | 33 | 0 |
| 12 | Me too | 9 | 20.7 3.7 | 9 | 0 |
| 13 | Wicked pizza company | 23 | 20.4 4.9 | 23 | 0 |
| 14 | Hy-top | 15 | 20.4 3.6 | 15 | 0 |
| 15 | Better valu | 9 | 20.2 4.0 | 9 | 0 |
Closest Look: Top 5 Most Processed
Least Processed Frozen Pizza Products
Individual products with the lowest processing scores.
Most Processed Frozen Pizza Products
Individual products with the highest processing scores.
What to Look for on the Label
- 1Count total ingredients — under 20 indicates a less processed frozen pizza
- 2Check if cheese is real mozzarella or "pizza cheese" (modified with fillers)
- 3Dough conditioners (DATEM, sodium stearoyl lactylate) are markers of industrial crust
- 4Simpler pizzas (margherita, plain cheese) consistently score lower than specialty toppings
Least Processed Frozen Pizza Brands
For comparison — brands with the lowest average processing scores.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talia di napoli | 10 | 4.7 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Amnons | 7 | 5.0 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Cadia | 6 | 5.0 3.3 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Mandia | 9 | 5.3 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Alexs awesome sourdough | 18 | 5.3 6.2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Simply balanced | 26 | 5.5 5.9 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | H-E-B | 64 | 5.5 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Kings | 9 | 5.8 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Peas of mind | 7 | 5.8 3.9 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Uncie ros | 13 | 5.8 5.9 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Katies pizza & pasta | 5 | 5.9 4.7 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Nash brothers trading company | 6 | 6.0 4.3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Home run inn | 202 | 6.0 4.5 | 20 | 0 |
| 14 | Against the grain gourmet | 15 | 6.0 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Genio della pizza | 7 | 6.0 4.4 | 0 | 0 |
How We Score Products
Every product is evaluated using two independent scores. The Processing Score (lower is better) measures the degree of industrial processing based on ingredient analysis, including the presence of artificial additives, preservatives, and highly modified ingredients. The Nutrition Score (higher is better) rates overall nutritional quality, rewarding protein and fiber while penalizing excess sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.
Products are assigned to one of four processing levels: Minimal (score ≤ 2.5), Processed (2.6 – 5.0), Highly Processed (5.1 – 8.0), and Ultra-Processed (above 8.0). Brand averages are calculated across all products in the category to produce the rankings shown here.
Based on analysis of 1.98 million products in the USDA FoodData Central database. For a deeper look at the methodology, see our Processing Score guide and Two-Score System explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are frozen pizzas so processed?
Each component requires shelf-stability modifications: dough needs conditioners, cheese needs anti-caking agents, sauce needs stabilizers, and toppings need preservatives. These compound across layers.
What is "pizza cheese" vs real mozzarella?
Some frozen pizzas use "imitation mozzarella" or "pizza cheese" made from modified milk protein, vegetable oil, and emulsifiers rather than traditional mozzarella. Check the ingredient list.
Are meat topping pizzas more processed?
Yes. Pepperoni and sausage add their own processing load (cured meats with nitrates, BHA/BHT), pushing meat-topped pizzas 1-2 processing levels higher than plain cheese.
Related Food Guides
Learn more about how individual foods are classified.
Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Product formulations change frequently — always check the actual label for current ingredients and nutrition facts before making purchasing decisions. Consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.