Toppings: Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is a sauce made from tomatoes, often with added ingredients like herbs, spices, and sweeteners. It is typically made by cooking down tomatoes, sometimes with other vegetables like onions and garlic, and then pureeing the mixture. The final product can range from smooth to chunky.

Tomato sauce is used to add flavor and moisture to a wide variety of dishes. It serves as a base for pasta sauces, pizza toppings, and as a condiment for many savory foods. Its bright, tangy flavor profile makes it a popular choice for enhancing the taste of many prepared meals.

Tomato sauce is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a food ingredient. Tomatoes are a source of nutrients like vitamin C and lycopene, an antioxidant. While generally considered healthy in moderation as part of a balanced diet, some commercially prepared tomato sauces may contain added sugars or sodium. JECFA and EFSA have evaluated tomato products, but specific evaluations for 'tomato sauce' as a distinct ingredient with health claims are not typically highlighted.