DiGiorno vs Red Baron Stuffed Crust: Which Has BHA? Just 1

DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni and the current Red Baron Pepperoni Stuffed Crust differ most in their pepperoni preservatives. DiGiorno's ingredient list names BHA and BHT, while the current Red Baron stuffed crust pepperoni listed on redbaron.com names neither, and both lists include sodium nitrite. Per serving, DiGiorno's stuffed crust lists 740 mg of sodium, while Red Baron's stuffed crust sodium was not disclosed on its brand page.

Key takeaways

• DiGiorno's pepperoni lists BHA and BHT. The current Red Baron stuffed crust pepperoni on redbaron.com lists neither. Both list sodium nitrite.
• DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni has 740 mg of sodium per 1/5 pizza (126 g). Red Baron's stuffed crust sodium was not disclosed, so read its box.
• BHA and BHT are both on FDA's list of select chemicals under review, and FDA is beginning a post-market safety assessment of each. FDA has not stated a safety conclusion for either additive.
• Red Baron's stuffed crust recipe has changed over time, so older online records may not match current packages.
• Check current labels directly, because ingredient lists can change.

What Is the Difference Between DiGiorno and Red Baron Stuffed Crust Pepperoni?

The two frozen pizzas share a cheese and pepperoni format, but their labels differ in the pepperoni, the oils and several additives. The table lists the label facts available for each product. Where an item is marked not disclosed, it was not found on the cited brand page or database record.

Label item	DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni	Red Baron Pepperoni Stuffed Crust
Pepperoni meat	Pork, mechanically separated chicken, beef	Pork
BHA on ingredient list	Yes	No
BHT on ingredient list	Yes	No
Sodium nitrite	Yes	Yes
Sodium per serving	740 mg per 126 g (1/5 pizza)	Not disclosed
Calories per serving	310	Not disclosed
Total fat per serving	16 g	Not disclosed
Palm oil	Yes (in vegetable oil shortening)	Yes (listed separately from other oils)
Vegetable oil	Soybean and/or corn oil	Canola and/or olive oil
Hydrolyzed soy and corn protein	No	Yes
Maltodextrin	No	Yes
Nutrition Facts on brand page	Per-serving values in Open Food Facts record	No panel posted on product page
Bioengineered status	Not disclosed	Not disclosed

Are BHA and BHT in DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni, and Are They in Red Baron?

Yes. The DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni ingredient list includes BHA and BHT inside its pepperoni listing, written as 'bha, bht, citric acid to help protect flavor.' The current Red Baron Pepperoni Stuffed Crust list on redbaron.com includes neither BHA nor BHT, and its pepperoni is listed as pork only.

Older online data shows a different Red Baron formula. An Open Food Facts record for Red Baron Stuffed Crust Pepperoni (barcode 0072180741707, last edited in 2023) lists pepperoni made with pork, chicken and beef, including BHA and BHT. The date Red Baron removed them is not disclosed. Shoppers comparing older web listings with current packages may see mismatched ingredients, so the box is the most reliable reference.

What Is BHA and BHT Used for in Pepperoni Pizza, and Why Are They on the Label?

On its list of select chemicals under review, FDA describes both chemicals as used 'as an antioxidant in food to prevent the spoilage of fats and oils.' Pepperoni is a fatty meat product, and fats can oxidize over time, which can affect flavor and quality. Antioxidant additives such as BHA and BHT are one way manufacturers address that, which is why they appear on ingredient lists for many packaged foods.

The DiGiorno label does not explain the role of each additive in detail. Readers who want background on how preservatives are named on packages can read Preservatives on Ingredient Lists Explained: Benzoate to BHA.

Label-reading checks for pepperoni pizza:

• Read the pepperoni line, since DiGiorno lists BHA and BHT inside the meat ingredient parentheses.
• Note which meats are named: pork alone, or pork, chicken and beef.
• Look for sodium nitrite, which both lists include.

Is BHA Safe to Eat, and What Is the FDA Reviewing in 2026?

FDA has opened a formal reassessment of BHA. FDA states that it 'is beginning a post-market assessment of the safety' of BHA as used in food and food contact materials. FDA has not stated a safety conclusion for BHA.

Whether typical pizza exposure matters for children, pregnant people or people with specific sensitivities is not settled by the label or the current regulatory notices. Nothing here should be read as a claim that BHA is harmful.

Is BHT Under Review by the FDA, and What Has Not Been Found?

BHT is also on FDA's list of select chemicals under review, and the agency describes it the same way it describes BHA, as an antioxidant that prevents spoilage of fats and oils. FDA states that it is beginning a post-market assessment of its safety.

What has not been found matters as much as what is under review. FDA has not stated a safety conclusion for BHT, and no outcome of the review has been stated. Check FDA's pages for updates, since the review may move forward at any time.

How Much Sodium Is in DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Compared With Red Baron?

DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni has 740 mg of sodium per 1/5 pizza (126 g), about 32% of the FDA Daily Value of less than 2,300 mg per day. FDA also notes that Americans eat about 3,400 mg of sodium per day on average, which is well above that Daily Value, so a single pizza's share matters when other meals are salty too.

Red Baron's stuffed crust sodium was not disclosed on its brand page, which posts no Nutrition Facts panel. The only Red Baron pepperoni panel on redbaron.com is for Classic Crust Pepperoni, a different product: 800 mg of sodium per 146 g serving (4 servings per container), labeled 35% DV. Because the serving size and product differ, that figure is not a like-for-like comparison with the DiGiorno stuffed crust.

DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Pepperoni, per 126 g serving, as listed in the Open Food Facts record:

• 310 calories, 16 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 35 mg cholesterol
• 740 mg sodium, 29 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g total sugars, 1 g added sugars, 15 g protein

Net weight and servings per container for the DiGiorno stuffed crust were not disclosed in the data here, so check the box. For another sodium comparison, see Kraft Singles vs Velveeta Slices: 230 mg vs 260 mg Sodium.

How Do the Pepperoni Ingredients Differ Between the Two Pizzas?

Both pepperonis list pork, salt, dextrose, spices, a lactic acid starter culture, sodium ascorbate, oleoresin of paprika, flavoring, citric acid and sodium nitrite. The main pepperoni differences are the meats, since DiGiorno adds mechanically separated chicken and beef, and the BHA and BHT on DiGiorno's list. DiGiorno's pepperoni also lists pork stock and natural smoke flavor.

Beyond the pepperoni, the stuffed crust lists diverge. Red Baron's list includes hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, maltodextrin, fermented wheat flour, dried onion and natural flavor among its 2% or less items. DiGiorno's list includes bread crumbs and a vegetable oil shortening containing palm oil, natural flavor and beta carotene.

Does DiGiorno Have MSG, and Does Red Baron?

Neither the DiGiorno nor the Red Baron stuffed crust ingredient list names monosodium glutamate. This reflects the listed ingredients only. Both lists do include other flavor ingredients, such as natural smoke flavor on DiGiorno and flavoring and natural flavor on Red Baron.

Does the Red Baron Stuffed Crust Use Real Cheese?

Yes, the list names part skim mozzarella cheese, specifically low moisture part skim mozzarella made from part skim milk, with cheese cultures, salt and enzymes. The list also names a restricted melt cheese built on part skim mozzarella with modified food starch and methylcellulose. DiGiorno's list includes the same two cheese lines.

Which Side-by-Side Label Details Should You Check Before Buying?

Use this checklist to compare the packages in front of you:

• Pepperoni line: BHA, BHT, sodium nitrite and the meats named.
• Fats: soybean and/or corn oil, canola and/or olive oil, or palm oil.
• Sodium per serving and the serving weight printed on the box.
• Maltodextrin and hydrolyzed soy and corn protein.
• Bioengineered disclosure, which was not disclosed for either stuffed crust here.
• Net weight and servings per container.
• Recipe or date code, because online records may lag behind the box.

Treat the package as the final source. Online listings, including older database records, can differ from the current label.

Why Do Ultra-Processed Pizza Ingredient Lists Matter for Health Questions?

Frozen stuffed crust pizzas combine refined flour, processed meat, cheese components, oils, starches and additives, which is why they are often discussed in ultra-processed food research. For that broader context, see Ultra-Processed Food and 8.8 Million Adults: What the Review Found.

Is DiGiorno Pizza Bad for You?

Neither label answers that question on its own. DiGiorno lists 740 mg of sodium and 8 g of saturated fat per 126 g serving, while Red Baron's stuffed crust sodium and fat figures were not disclosed on its brand page. A label describes one product, not how a diet affects any person.

The evidence cannot establish individual responses, and most studies cannot isolate one additive or one pizza. People who track sodium for medical reasons may want to discuss their intake with a clinician, and the open FDA reviews of BHA and BHT may change what is known.

Scan the box yourself with the Aurascan app to read what BHA, BHT and sodium nitrite are and what regulators say about each one.

Related reading: for after-school pizza snacks, see Do Totino's Pizza Rolls Have Red 40? No, Nor Bagel Bites.