CAMPBELL’S TOMATO SOUP — FAR FROM HOMEMADE™

Information updated January 2024

What's more synonymous with one of your favorite childhood winter comforts? Or what to eat with a grilled cheese sandwich? Tomato Soup! The perfect partner.

A LITTLE HISTORY: We didn't used to have access to tomatoes year-round; tomato soup was made only when tomatoes were in season. Tomatoes are a fruit and contain some sugars so they are naturally sweet.

HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP: Tomato Soup recipes include Tomatoes, Onions, Butter and Salt + Pepper plus possibly Water, Cream, Sugar and Seasoning such as Basil.

CAMPBELL'S TOMATO SOUP: Today, Campbell’s Soup, the oldest condensed Tomato Soup brand, uses added Sweetener in the form of Sugar. It also has ingredients like Water x2, Potassium Salt, Wheat Flour, added Flavoring, 2 Chemical Preservatives and Monopotassium Phosphate.

You may be asking yourself, “Is this the same Campbell’s Tomato Soup I ate as a kid?”  The answer is "No."

Let’s take a quick look at what Campbell’s Tomato Soup contained decades ago vs. what it contains in 2024. (Sources: Historical Label Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup, Campbell's Web site 1/24)

As you can see from the label on the left side below, Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup was once made with Closer To Homemade ingredients like Onions and Butter. There was no added Water or commercial Flavoring and it was made with Tomatoes (not Tomato Purée which includes Water).

NOT IN KITCHEN INGREDIENTS: In 2024, the majority of ingredients in Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup are Not In Kitchen™ >> if we were making Condensed Tomato Soup at home, we would never have in our kitchen those items circled in red above: added Water x2, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Potassium Salt, added Flavoring, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid and Monopotassium Phosphate. This product is Far From Homemade.

Q: Why is Water now twice in the Campbell’s Tomato Soup ingredients when it is a Condensed soup to which we are suppose to add liquid?

Three of the top four ingredients in a Campbell’s Tomato Soup can are Water x2 — a Thinning Agent — and Wheat Flour — a Thickening Agent.

Qs: Why do you think Campbell's Soup Company made these changes?

Were these changes made to benefit the consumer or the corporation?

What happened to the taste of the soup as these changes were made? 

Today, the shelf life of Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup is two years. (Source: Campbell's Food Service Web site 1/24)

CAMPBELL'S HOMESTYLE HARVEST TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL: Since the objective of the Ingredient Inspector is to find products which are Closest To Homemade, let's look at the Campbell's Homestyle Harvest Tomato Soup with Basil << since it has "Homestyle" in the name, perhaps it is closer to homemade.

Campbell's Homestyle Harvest Tomato Soup with Basil contains items Not in Kitchen: Natural Flavoring, Wheat Flour as a Thickener/Stabilizer, Yeast Extract as a flavor enhancer plus an FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative >> Citric Acid. (Sources: Campbell's Web site 1/24; U.S. FDA 2024)

Seen below, GENERAL MILLS PROGRESSO CANNED SOUP CONTAINS MULTIPLE INGREDIENTS NOT IN KITCHEN: Heat & Eat Progresso Tomato Basil Soup contains Potassium Chloride plus Soybean Oil,  Soy Lecithin and Corn Syrup Solids. Progresso Tomato Basil Soup also contains two FDA-recognized Chemical Preservatives, Ascorbic Acid and Citric Acid. (Sources: General Mills Progresso Web site 1/24; U.S. FDA 2024)

According to Statista 2024, the two biggest Soup brands in the U.S. are Campbell's and Progresso. Below are the three canned Soups we just looked at side-by-side from these two companies.

Following is a snapshot of Campbell’s canned Tomato Soups:

Seen below, CAMPBELL’S ORGANIC CREAMY TOMATO SOUP OFFERING VIA PACIFIC FOODS: Let’s look at the Campbell’s-owned organic Brand, Pacific Foods Creamy Tomato Soup. (Source for ingredients: Campbell’s Pacific Foods Web site 1/24)

This Campbell’s product contains Organic Cheddar Cheese Flavor and Organic Rice Flour.

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE: Following are two canned Tomato Soups which are Closest To Homemade with no Corn Syrups, Chemical Preservatives, MSG, Flavors or Colors.

Amy's Organic and Annie's Organic. They both have added Organic Cane Sugar. (Sources: Brand Web sites 1/24)

These are not Condensed Soups >> they are Ready to heat & eat so the inclusion of Water is not the same situation as Campell’s adding Water to their Condensed Tomato Soup.

Discover more products whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories:

TOMATO SOUP COMPARISON: Let's look at the #1 Tomato Soup in the U.S., Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup, compared to one of the Closest To Homemade brands, Amy's Organic

Q: Which one of these soups looks more appealing to you?

In the world of Tomato Soup:

AVOID: Corn sweeteners, GMO sugar, agave, artificial sweeteners, MSG, potassium chloride, modified food starch, natural and artificial flavors, monopotassium phosphate, wheat flour, soy lecithin, dehydrated ingredients, chemical preservatives, (table) salt.

SEEK: Organic cane sugar or non-GMO vegan sugar (if there is Sugar), organic tomatoes, fresh ingredients, Himalayan salt, organic butter or extra virgin olive oil.

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Here’s a look at some old Campbell’s Tomato soup ads which show the Brand’s original positioning which has been undermined and compromised by ingredient changes: