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.
Hillshire Farm is one of the most popular and widely available brands of pre-packaged deli turkey. Their oven roasted turkey breast is a staple sandwich meat for many families. But with concerns over processed meats and additives, you may wonder – is Hillshire Farm turkey actually good for you?
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth, evidence-based look at the nutrition facts, ingredients, and health effects of Hillshire Farm deli turkey
An Overview of Hillshire Farm Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Here are some key specs for Hillshire Farm’s classic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
- Serving Size: 2 slices (56g)
- Calories: 60
- Fat: 1.5g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Protein: 11g
At first glance, the nutrition facts don’t seem too bad. It’s relatively low in calories, fat, and protein rich However, the sodium content is quite high at 590mg per serving.
Now let’s look at the ingredients list:
- Turkey Breast Meat
- Water
- Contains Less Than 2% of Sea Salt, Sodium Phosphates, Natural Flavors
Two concerning ingredients jump out here – sodium phosphates and natural flavors. Let’s examine each in more detail.
The Potential Health Risks of Sodium Phosphates
Sodium phosphates are commonly added to processed meats as emulsifying agents and preservatives. However, there are some potential downsides:
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They allow deli meats to retain more water and salt, increasing sodium levels. This may raise blood pressure and heart disease risk.
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Studies show sodium phosphates can damage the intestinal lining and contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and colitis.
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Phosphates can accelerate kidney aging and vascular calcification when consumed excessively.
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High phosphate intake may pull calcium from bones, increasing osteoporosis risk.
While more research is needed, there are legitimate concerns over the health effects of phosphates in processed foods. Limiting intake when possible is wise.
The Controversy Around Natural Flavors
The vague term “natural flavors” also raises some questions. By law, natural flavors must originate from natural sources. However:
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Highly processed methods like solvent extraction and high heat are allowed under the “natural” label.
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Companies don’t have to disclose the original sources or amounts used, making it impossible to know.
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Natural flavors can contain MSG, which some people are sensitive to.
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You consume them in far higher concentrations than eating the whole food.
The lack of transparency and processing render natural flavors controversial among health-conscious consumers.
How Hillshire Farm Compares to Other Deli Turkey Brands
To provide more context, let’s compare Hillshire Farm turkey to a couple leading competitors:
| Brand | Fat | Sodium | Sugars | Phosphates | Nitrates/Nitrites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillshire Farm | 1.5g | 590mg | 0g | Yes | No |
| Applegate Organics | 0g | 380mg | 0g | No | No |
| Oscar Mayer | 1.5g | 590mg | 1g | Yes | Yes |
This makes it clear Hillshire Farm is very similar to Oscar Mayer – both contain phosphates and higher sodium.
Applegate Organics emerges as the cleaner choice, with no phosphates or chemical preservatives. However, it often costs more.
The Verdict: Is Hillshire Farm Turkey Healthy?
Given the nutrition profile and ingredients analysis, here is my conclusion on how healthy Hillshire Farm deli turkey is:
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Relatively low in calories, fat, sugars compared to other lunch meats.
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Sodium content is moderate at 590mg per serving but could be 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 some competitors, but not an 100% “clean” product either.
When choosing any processed food, reading labels carefully and doing your research is key. Use this guide as a starting point when evaluating if Hillshire Farm turkey fits your individual nutrition needs and preferences.
Personally, I would only eat it occasionally and opt for an uncured turkey without phosphates when possible. But eating Hillshire Farm turkey deli meat in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet is unlikely to pose major health risks. Just be mindful of the sodium content and potential additives.
Ultra Thin Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
This Hillshire Farm product is the basic, run-of-the-mill sliced deli meat turkey. It doesnt have any extra flavoring, no fancy bells and whistles. It is simply turkey. Oh, and its Ultra Thin, because the brand seems to definitely have a thing for that kind of slicing. As with many of the plainest versions of a product, our taste test team did not have strong opinions one way or the other. Working against a high ranking, though, is that turkey itself is one of the more muted meats in terms of inherent flavor.
Altogether, it means that this Oven Roasted Turkey Breast doubled down on its simplicity, which is great for picky eaters or those who confidently proclaim they prefer food the old-fashioned way (before mashups like everything bagel potato chips or cookies and cream yogurt hit the market). For the rest of us, it makes a regular old sandwich that doesnt brighten or dull our day. There are much tastier deli meats out there — just keep reading. Know thyself, and know that if you like things in their purest form, this might be your jam, and theres nothing wrong with that.
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.
The Best Lunch Meat To Buy At The Grocery Store…And What To Avoid!
FAQ
Is Hillshire Farm meat healthy?
Hillshire Farm Smoked Ham
This curing makes the meat safe to eat, but the trade-off for this is that it’s also filled with sodium, sometimes excessively so. Hillshire Farms Smoked Ham is a good example of this. Each serving has 610 milligrams of sodium, or a quarter of your daily value.
Does Hillshire Farms turkey have nitrates?
No artificial preservatives (See back panel for ingredients used to preserve quality). Fully cooked. No nitrates or nitrites added (Except for those naturally occurring in the celery juice powder and sea salt). No artificial flavors.
Is pre-packaged turkey healthy?
As the name suggests, lunch meats are a lunchtime staple. But they’re not the healthiest option. Canned and prepackaged cold cuts are loaded with saturated fat, sodium and nitrates — all while being short on protein.
Is Hillshire turkey sausage healthy?
- Hillshire turkey sausage has fewer calories and less fat than pork sausage
- It’s high in protein and contains many vitamins
- It contains no artificial preservatives