Key findings
- 1Homemade broth from meat, bones, water, and salt is a simple extraction with nothing added
- 2Commercial broth with 6-8 ingredients and meat listed first stays close to homemade
- 3Budget commercial broths with yeast extract, sugar, and natural flavors are more processed
Why is Broth Level 3 on average?
Traditional broth is made by simmering meat, bones, or vegetables in water with salt and aromatics: a slow extraction process that requires no additives. Commercial broth production often takes shortcuts: yeast extract provides umami without long simmering, natural flavors boost taste, sugar balances flavor, and caramel color gives a rich appearance. The simplest commercial broths list chicken or beef as the first ingredient and keep additives minimal. Others list water first followed by flavor enhancers. In our analysis, broth products average a Processing Score of 5.3, which is Level 3.
How 1,022 broth products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Broth brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a broth label
- 1
The first ingredient should be chicken, beef, or vegetables and not water
- 2
Yeast extract is a flavor shortcut that suggests less actual meat or bone content
- 3
"Natural flavors" is a broad term that can mask industrial flavor compounds
- 4
Low-sodium versions often have cleaner ingredient lists since salt masks flavor shortcuts
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Frequently asked questions
Is store-bought broth ultra-processed?
In our analysis, broth products average a Processing Score of 5.3, which is Level 3, and individual brands vary. Look for broth with meat or bones as the first ingredient and fewer than 10 total ingredients. Watch for brands heavy on yeast extract and natural flavors.
What is the difference between broth and stock?
Broth is traditionally made from meat (sometimes with bones), while stock focuses on bones for collagen and body. In practice, commercial products use the terms interchangeably. Both are simple preparations when made from scratch.
Is bone broth ultra-processed?
Traditional bone broth (bones simmered in water with vinegar, salt, and aromatics) is a simple preparation with nothing added. Commercial bone broth products vary; check for added natural flavors, yeast extract, or sugar that indicate more processing.