Sometimes all you want is a sandwich, particularly the kind featuring two slices of squishy white or toothsome whole wheat bread, a layer of something like mustard or mayo, maybe a few vegetables, and a slice of cheese (or two if were feeling extra hungry). Wait, are we forgetting something? The lunch seems lacking, doesnt it? Oh, right, were forgetting the most important part: The deli meat, thinly sliced, slightly juicy, and nostalgic as anything. Theres just nothing like chomping down on a handheld meal and getting a big bite of our favorite meat. Its so convenient, too! That means youll want a convenient brand like Hillshire Farm, which you can find just about anywhere, to stuff your sandwich with.
One of the best things about the Hillshire Farms brand is its diversity of meats, as well as the number of options it has for each type. In our particular store alone, for example, we were able to find four different kinds of ham: Smoked, Black Forest, Honey, and Brown Sugar, each with its own distinct tone. But maybe you generally prefer turkey to ham. Which kind of turkey is best? And is the lower-ranking turkey as good as the higher-ranking ham? Lets get right down to it and start ranking Hillshire Farm deli meat from worst to best, because these are some of lifes hardest-hitting questions. At least if you take lunch as seriously as we do.
Turkey sandwiches are a staple of lunches and quick dinners for many families. And when it comes to pre-packaged deli turkey, Hillshire Farm is one of the most popular brands. But is Hillshire Farm turkey actually good for you? I decided to take an objective look at the nutrition facts and ingredients to find out
An Overview of Hillshire Farm Turkey
Hillshire Farm offers several types of turkey deli meat, including oven roasted, smoked, and thin-sliced options. For this article, I’ll focus on one of their top sellers – the Oven Roasted Turkey Breast.
Some key facts about Hillshire Farm Oven Roasted Turkey Breast:
- Serving Size: 2 slices (56g)
- Calories: 60
- Fat: 1.5g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Protein: 11g
The nutrition label seems decent at first glance But there are a few concerning things I noticed when taking a closer look at the ingredients list
Ingredients in Hillshire Farm Oven Roasted Turkey Breast:
- Turkey Breast Meat
- Water
- Contains Less Than 2% of Sea Salt, Sodium Phosphates, Natural Flavors
The main issues here are the sodium phosphates and natural flavors Let’s look at each more closely
Why Sodium Phosphates Are Controversial
Sodium phosphates are added to many processed meats and cheeses as emulsifying agents and preservatives. Some specific concerns around these additives include:
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Higher sodium intake – Phosphates increase the meat’s ability to retain water and salt, resulting in higher sodium levels. This may increase risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
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Gut inflammation – Studies show sodium phosphates can damage intestinal lining and contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases.
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Kidney damage – Phosphates accelerate aging and contribute to vascular calcification in kidneys when consumed in excess.
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Negative effects on bone health – High phosphate levels can pull calcium from bones, increasing risk of osteoporosis.
While more research is still needed, there are legitimate reasons to limit intake of sodium phosphates from processed foods when possible.
The Controversy Around Natural Flavors
Next on the ingredients list are “natural flavors.” This vague term hides a complex reality.
By law, natural flavors must come from natural sources. But the way they are processed and concentrated makes them quite different from the original plant or animal source.
Some concerns around natural flavors include:
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Lots of processing is allowed under the “natural” label, including solvent extraction and high heat processing.
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Companies don’t have to disclose the original source or amount used, making it impossible to know.
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They are potential sources of MSG, which some people are sensitive to.
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The compounds are very concentrated, so you end up eating far more than if eating the original food.
The lack of transparency and highly processed nature of natural flavors renders them controversial for health-conscious consumers.
How Hillshire Farm Turkey Compares to Other Brands
To better evaluate Hillshire Farm deli turkey, I compared it to some other top brands using data from EWG’s Food Scores database.
Here is how Hillshire Farm Oven Roasted Turkey Breast stacks up against two competitors:
| Brand | Fat | Sodium | Sugar | Phosphates | Nitrates/Nitrites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillshire Farm | 1.5g | 590mg | 0g | Yes | No |
| Applegate Organics Oven Roasted Turkey | 0g | 380mg | 0g | No | No |
| Oscar Mayer Oven Roasted Turkey | 1.5g | 590mg | 1g | Yes | Yes |
Based on this comparison, Hillshire Farm is very similar to Oscar Mayer – both contain phosphates and higher sodium levels.
Applegate Organics emerges as the cleaner choice, with no phosphates or chemical preservatives. However, it comes at a higher cost.
The Verdict: Is Hillshire Farm Turkey Healthy?
Given the nutrition profile and ingredients list, here is my verdict on Hillshire Farm deli turkey:
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Relatively low in fat, sugars, and calories compared to other lunch meats.
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Sodium content is moderate at 590mg per serving. Some brands are lower.
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Inclusion of sodium phosphates and natural flavors is concerning for health-conscious consumers.
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Not as high in chemical additives as many competitors, but not a 100% “clean” product either.
When choosing any pre-packaged food, reading labels carefully and doing your research is important. Use this guide as a starting point to make the deli meat choice that fits your individual nutritional needs and preferences.
What do you think – is Hillshire Farm turkey a healthy choice in your book? Share your thoughts in the comments!
1 Ultra Thin Sliced Roast Beef
Of all the options on this list, even including hearty ham or peppery pastrami, we place before you the meatiest one: roast beef, in this case, Ultra Thin Sliced Roast Beef. In glorious full-fledged form, a massive roast beef is a common centerpiece at the holiday table. This is the polar opposite treatment, however, and one thats much more accessible. When was the last time you cooked a roast beef over your lunch hour at the office? Its been a while for us, at least.
Its hard to get that level and depth of roasted, beefy flavor in a slice of deli meat, particularly when its sliced thinly Though theres a surprising amount of flavor in each slice, we found that we still needed a large percentage of the entire pack in order to have a true roast beef sandwich. Maybe the Ultra Thin size was a bit extreme because the more carnivorous members of our tasting team prefer to lay it on thick. Still, we enjoyed the general taste and texture of the meat and would get it again, though we might pivot to a different brand next time to see how the quality compares.
Ultra Thin Sliced Pastrami Lunch Meat
Everyone has heard of the quintessential pastrami on rye sandwich, and if you havent tried it out for yourself, now is the time. Go out and grab some Ultra Thin Sliced Pastrami, heat it up gently, and dont forget the bread. Better yet, bake it up yourself for the freshest, fiercest, fanciest sandwich of your life. Pastrami has a brashly peppery, zesty border that can be off-putting to some and a real selling point for others. That verve should infiltrate the rest of the slice and not just the edge, but unfortunately, this Hillshire Farm pastrami didnt quite go the extra mile.
Also, pastrami is especially salty when tasted back-to-back with other mild meats like turkey breast or rotisserie chicken. Personally, we love the salt-and-pepper profile. Its what makes the meat, and we think its slightly lacking here. Theres also just less of a deep, rich, fatty flavor than the competition. But pastrami is pastrami, and when you want it, nothing else will do.
The Best Lunch Meat To Buy At The Grocery Store…And What To Avoid!
FAQ
Is Hillshire Farm turkey real turkey?
Is Hillshire meat processed?
Is Hillshire Farms oven roasted turkey good for you?
Does Hillshire Farm turkey have nitrates?
What makes Hillshire Farm honey roasted turkey breast a good choice?
*Except for those naturally occurring in the celery juice powder and sea salt. Rich, golden honey and slow oven roasting and no artificial flavors —that’s what makes Hillshire Farm® Thin Sliced Honey Roasted Turkey breast a great choice.
Is Hillshire Farm ham good?
Therefore, purchasing this high-quality Premium Carved Slow Roasted Seasoned Ham is definitely justifiable. It’s a cut above the other four ham offerings from Hillshire Farm. We could tell just by looking at it, even when removed from its more elegant packaging, that this is good stuff.
Is Hillshire Farms a good brand?
One of the best things about the Hillshire Farms brand is its diversity of meats, as well as the number of options it has for each type. In our particular store alone, for example, we were able to find four different kinds of ham: Smoked, Black Forest, Honey, and Brown Sugar, each with its own distinct tone.
Is Hillshire Farm pastrami salty?
That verve should infiltrate the rest of the slice and not just the edge, but unfortunately, this Hillshire Farm pastrami didn’t quite go the extra mile. Also, pastrami is especially salty when tasted back-to-back with other mild meats like turkey breast or rotisserie chicken.