Is Applegate Sausage Clean?

The Short Answer

Applegate is the best widely available sausage brand, but you have to pick the right product. The Organics Chicken & Apple Sausage is a "Green Flag" product—it is truly uncured, free of celery powder, and uses organic ingredients without vague "natural flavors."

However, their Classic Pork Sausage gets a "Caution" rating because it uses celery powder. While natural, celery powder is high in nitrates which are chemically identical to synthetic sodium nitrite. If you are strictly avoiding nitrates for health reasons, stick to the chicken varieties.

Why This Matters

Processed meats are often classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the WHO due to nitrate content. Many "natural" brands swap synthetic sodium nitrite for celery powder, which lets them say "No Nitrates Added*" on the label while still delivering a dose of nitrates.

Applegate is one of the few brands that offers a truly nitrate-free option (their chicken sausages), but they also sell products with natural nitrates (their pork sausages and hot dogs). Knowing the difference protects you from accidental exposure.

Additionally, standard pigs are often raised in gestation crates. Applegate is GAP-certified, meaning their animals are raised humanely with no crates, no antibiotics, and more space to roam. This is a massive improvement over brands like Jimmy Dean or Johnsonville.

What's Actually In Applegate Sausage

Here is the ingredient breakdown for their most popular Organics Chicken & Apple Sausage:

• Organic Chicken — Antibiotic-free and humanely raised.
• Organic Dried Apples — Real fruit for sweetness, not just syrup.
• Sea Salt, Vinegar, Baking Soda — Clean preservatives and texture agents.
• Organic Spices — Real seasoning.

Compare that to the Naturals Chicken & Maple Sausage:

• Natural Maple Flavor — A "Red Flag" ingredient. This is a processed flavor pack, not just pure maple syrup.
• Cane Sugar — Added refined sugar on top of the maple syrup.
• Chicken — Antibiotic-free, but fed non-organic (likely GMO) feed.

And the Classic Pork Sausage:

• Celery Powder — A source of concentrated nitrates. Is Uncured Sausage Healthier
• Lactic Acid Starter Culture — Used to cure the meat.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "Organics" Label — Ensures non-GMO feed and cleaner spice blends.
• No Celery Powder — Found in the chicken varieties (check the label to be sure).
• GAP Animal Welfare Certified — Look for the step rating on the box.

Red Flags:

• "Natural Flavor" — Found in the Maple and Savory Turkey varieties.
• Added Sugar — The Maple variety has 3g of added sugar per serving.
• Celery Powder — Found in almost all their pork products and hot dogs.

The Best Options

The Bottom Line

1. Buy the Chicken & Apple. It is by far the cleanest formulation they offer.

2. Check for "Celery Powder." If you see this ingredient, the product contains nitrates, even if it says "Uncured."

3. Trust the sourcing. Even their "Caution" products are ethically miles ahead of conventional sausage due to their animal welfare standards.

FAQ

Does Applegate sausage have nitrates?

It depends on the meat. The Chicken & Apple sausages are nitrate-free. The Pork sausages contain celery powder, which contains naturally occurring nitrates that behave similarly to synthetic nitrites in the body. Are Nitrates In Sausage Bad

Is Applegate processed meat?

Yes. Any meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, or salting is processed. However, the Organics Chicken & Apple sausage is minimally processed compared to the pork versions because it lacks curing agents like celery powder.

Is Applegate organic?

Only the products labeled "Applegate Organics" are organic. The "Applegate Naturals" line uses meat raised without antibiotics, but the animals are likely fed GMO grain. Always look for the green USDA Organic seal if you want to avoid GMOs.

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References (8)

1. 1. spoonfulapp.com
2. 2. applegate.com
3. 3. fairwaymarket.com
4. 4. walmart.com
5. 5. gardengrocer.com
6. 6. cooklist.com
7. 7. thedailymeal.com
8. 8. ewg.org