FAQ

Product features

Are chopped tomatoes the same as crushed tomatoes?

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not always the same. Chopped tomatoes generally contain clearly visible pieces of tomato in tomato juice, while crushed tomatoes usually have a finer, more homogeneous consistency.
Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes (Polpa) are characterised by their combination of finely chopped tomatoes and juice, offering both freshness and texture. This makes them an excellent choice when you want the tomato to remain clearly present in the finished dish, while still blending harmoniously into the sauce.

Are there any seeds in Mutti Tomato Purée?

No. Thanks to Mutti’s unique patented method, the tomatoes are carefully sieved to separate the juice and pulp from the skins, seeds and cellulose. This process gives Mutti Tomato Purée its smooth, velvety consistency while preserving the naturally sweet flavour and bright red colour of ripe tomatoes.

Do Mutti Pasta Sauces contain gluten?

Most Mutti Pasta Sauces are prepared using 100% Italian tomatoes and other naturally gluten-free ingredients such as vegetables, herbs and extra virgin olive oil.

However, recipes may vary depending on the variety and the country in which the product is sold. For consumers with coeliac disease or severe food allergies, always refer to the ingredient list and allergen information printed on the product label.

Does Mutti Chopped Tomatoes contain gluten?

No. Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes are made exclusively from tomatoes and a small amount of salt and contains no gluten-containing ingredients.
For consumers with coeliac disease or severe food allergies, always refer to the ingredient list and allergen information printed on the product label.

Does Mutti Tomato Paste contain gluten?

No. Mutti Tomato Paste is made exclusively from concentrated tomatoes and contains no gluten-containing ingredients.
For consumers with coeliac disease or severe food allergies, always refer to the ingredient list and allergen information printed on the product label.

Does Mutti Tomato Purée contain gluten?

No. Mutti Tomato Purée is made exclusively from tomatoes and a small amount of salt and contains no gluten-containing ingredients.
For consumers with coeliac disease or severe food allergies, always refer to the ingredient list and allergen information printed on the product label.

What allergens are contained in Mutti products?

All intentionally added allergens are clearly declared in the ingredient list on the packaging. For consumers with food allergies or intolerances, always refer to the ingredient list and allergen information printed on the product label.

Is there sugar in Passata?

No sugar is added to Mutti Passata. Its naturally sweet flavour comes exclusively from the careful selection of tomatoes harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness and from the gentle processing method that preserves their quality.

What are Peeled Tomatoes?

Mutti Peeled Tomatoes are whole Plum tomatoes whose skins have been gently removed while preserving their natural texture and flavour. They are packed in a smooth tomato juice that enhances their freshness and versatility.
Their firm, fleshy consistency makes them suitable wherever a recipe calls for authentic tomato taste. They can be used whole, crushed or blended according to the desired texture.

What are the ingredients in Chopped Tomatoes?

Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes are made from 99.8% round Italian tomatoes and a pinch of salt to perfectly balance their natural flavour. The finely chopped tomato flesh is combined with tomato juice to preserve the fresh taste and pleasant texture of just-picked ripe tomatoes.

What are the main characteristics of Mutti Chopped Tomatoes?

Mutti Chopped Tomatoes (Polpa) combine the finely chopped pulpy part of the tomato with its juice, delivering the freshness of ripe tomatoes together with a pleasantly rich texture.
Made with 100% Italian tomatoes, they are ideal for both dishes requiring longer cooking times, as they maintain their fresh tomato flavour and texture throughout cooking. Their versatility makes them suitable for richer pasta sauces, baked dishes and slow-cooked recipes.

What are the main characteristics of Mutti Tomato Purée?

Mutti Tomato Purée (Passata) is made with 100% Italian tomatoes, harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness to preserve their natural flavour and quality. Its velvety texture, sweet flavour and bright red colour make it the ideal choice for recipes requiring a smooth tomato base.
Thanks to its creamy consistency, Mutti Passata is particularly suitable for short cooking times, allowing the fresh taste of ripe tomatoes to shine through in quick soups, eggs and white meat dishes.

What exactly is Tomato Paste?

Tomato Paste is the most concentrated expression of the tomato. It is produced by gently removing much of the water naturally present in tomatoes, resulting in a dense product with an intense flavour and colour.
Mutti Tomato Paste is designed to intensify the flavour and texture of the tomato, making it an ideal ingredient whenever a recipe calls for a deeper tomato taste. Even a small amount adds richness, colour and body to sauces, soups and stews.

What is Tomato Passata made of?

Mutti Passata is made from 100% Italian tomatoes, harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness. The tomatoes are crushed and gently heated before the juice is separated from the peel, seeds and cellulose. The refined tomato is then concentrated under vacuum to preserve its flavour before being pasteurised and bottled.

The result is a smooth tomato purée with a naturally sweet taste, bright red colour and velvety texture. The classic recipe contains 99.5% tomato and a small amount of salt.

What's the difference between tomato purée and chopped tomatoes?

The main difference between Tomato Purée (Passata) and Chopped Tomatoes (Polpa) is their texture and their best culinary use.
Mutti Tomato Purée is smooth and velvety, as the tomatoes are sieved to remove the skins and seeds. Its silky consistency makes it ideal for recipes requiring a refined, even sauce and for dishes with short cooking times.
Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes combine finely chopped tomato flesh with tomato juice, preserving the fresh taste and texture of ripe tomatoes. Their richer consistency makes them particularly suitable for recipes where visible pieces of tomato are desired, such as pasta sauces, pizzas, baked dishes and slow-cooked recipes.
Both products are made with 100% Italian tomatoes harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness. The choice simply depends on the texture and final result you would like to achieve.

Origin and Production

Are Mutti peeled tomatoes San Marzano?

The classic Mutti Peeled Tomatoes are made from carefully selected 100% Italian Plum tomatoes. However, Mutti also produces a dedicated San Marzano PDO product, clearly identified on the packaging and made exclusively with certified San Marzano tomatoes grown in the protected area of origin.

How is Mutti Triple Concentrated Tomato Paste produced?

Mutti Triple Concentrated Tomato Paste is made exclusively from 100% Italian tomatoes, carefully selected and harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness. The tomatoes are crushed and gently concentrated by removing much of their natural water, resulting in a dense paste with an exceptionally rich tomato flavour. Unlike many tomato pastes, Mutti Triple Concentrated Tomato Paste is produced using only the highest quality 100% Italian tomatoes, not by-products from other tomato processing.
The result is a product with a rich flavour, dense texture and intense red colour, ideal for adding depth and intensity to your recipes.

Is Mutti Triple Tomato Concentrated Tomato Paste made with organic tomatoes?

Mutti offers a dedicated Organic range, including a Triple Concentrated Organic Tomato Paste. Organic products are made with 100% Italian, certified organic tomatoes and are clearly identified by the organic certification on the packaging. Availability may vary depending on the country.

What do the letters and numbers next to the use-by date mean?

The letters and numbers printed next to the use-by date form the product’s batch code. This code allows Mutti to identify the production information associated with each individual package, including details such as the production line, date and manufacturing batch. It plays an essential role in ensuring complete product traceability and supporting the company’s rigorous quality controls.

What is pizza sauce made of?

Mutti Pizza Sauces are made with 100% Italian tomatoes, carefully selected and harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness tand a few carefully selected ingredients, allowing the natural flavour of the tomatoes to remain the star of the recipe. Mutti’s range includes several recipes, each designed to suit different tastes while providing the ideal consistency for spreading directly onto the pizza base.
All Mutti Pizza Sauces are ready to use, allowing you to create an authentic Italian-style pizza with the fresh flavour of high-quality tomatoes.

What tomato varieties are used in Mutti products?

Mutti carefully selects different tomato varieties according to the characteristics required for each product. Each variety is cultivated in the Italian region best suited to its characteristics, allowing every product to express its ideal balance of flavour, colour and texture.
Round tomatoes are used for core products such as Passata and Chopped Tomatoes, while plum tomatoes are selected for Peeled Tomatoes because of their firm, fleshy texture. Cherry and Baby Roma tomatoes are chosen for products that naturally benefit from their sweeter flavour.
San Marzano PDO tomatoes, grown exclusively in the Agro Sarnese-Nocerino area between Naples and Salerno, are also used for Mutti’s dedicated San Marzano PDO Tomatoes, prized for their refined flavour and protected designation of origin.

Where do Mutti tomatoes come from?

All Mutti tomato products are made with 100% Italian tomatoes. The tomatoes are grown in the Italian regions best suited to each variety and are harvested at the perfect stage of ripeness before being processed in Italy within 24 hours to preserve their flavour, colour and freshness.

Where is Mutti tomato sauce produced?

Mutti tomato products are produced in Italy, close to the tomato-growing areas where the fruit is harvested. Processing the tomatoes shortly after harvest helps preserve their freshness, flavour and quality, allowing Mutti to maintain the high standards for which the company is known.

Which Mutti products are organic?

Mutti offers a dedicated Organic range made with 100% Italian, certified organic tomatoes. The range includes: Organic Passata, Organic Diced Tomatoes, Organic Peeled Tomatoes, Organic Double Concentrated Tomato Paste.
Availability may vary by country.

Which tomato variety is used for peeled tomatoes, and where do they come from?

Mutti Peeled Tomatoes are made from carefully selected 100% Italian Plum tomatoes, grown in Southern Italy and harvested at the height of summer to ensure the best flavour and texture. Their firm and fleshy texture makes them ideal for being peeled whole while maintaining their natural quality during cooking.
Mutti also offers a dedicated San Marzano PDO product, made exclusively with certified San Marzano tomatoes grown in the Agro Sarnese-Nocerino area, between Naples and Salerno, in accordance with the PDO production regulations.

Usage and preparation

Can Mutti Passata be eaten without previously cooking it?

Yes. Mutti Passata is pasteurised during production and is safe to consume straight from the bottle. Its smooth consistency and naturally sweet flavour also make it suitable for cold preparations such as gazpacho, tomato dressings or dips, as well as recipes that require only gentle heating.

Can Mutti Polpa be eaten without previously cooking it?

Yes. Mutti Polpa is pasteurised and ready to use without further cooking.
Its combination of finely chopped tomato flesh and tomato juice makes it ideal for fresh preparations such as bruschetta, salsa or cold tomato-based dishes, while also delivering excellent results in cooked recipes.

Can you replace chopped tomatoes with tomato paste?

Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes and Mutti Concentrated Tomato Paste are very different products and are designed for different culinary purposes. Mutti Finely Chopped Tomatoes combine finely chopped tomato pieces with tomato juice, making them ideal for recipes where the fresh taste and texture of tomatoes are an essential part of the dish.
Mutti Tomato Paste, on the other hand, is a highly concentrated tomato product, used in small quantities to enrich recipes with a more intense tomato flavour, richer colour and greater depth. For the best results, we recommend using each product for its intended purpose.

How can I substitute tomato paste?

Mutti Tomato Paste is a unique product, created to add richness, depth and an intense concentrated tomato flavour to recipes. For this reason, there is no direct substitute that delivers exactly the same result.
The best choice depends on what you want to achieve in your dish. If you are looking for a smooth, creamy tomato base, Mutti Passata is the ideal option. If you prefer the fresh taste and texture of finely chopped tomatoes, Mutti Chopped Tomatoes are the best choice.
Each product has its own distinctive characteristics and is designed to bring out the best in different recipes.

Is tomato passata the same as tomato paste?

Although both are made from 100% Italian tomatoes, they are very different products. Mutti Passata is a smooth, velvety tomato purée made from sieved tomatoes. It is used as the main base for sauces and many everyday recipes. Mutti Tomato Paste is produced by concentrating tomatoes to remove much of their natural water, resulting in a dense product with an intense tomato flavour. It is typically used in smaller quantities to enrich recipes by adding flavour, colour and body.
The choice depends on the role the tomato plays in your recipe: Passata creates the sauce, while Tomato Paste enhances it.

What do Italians use passata for?

Passata is one of the most versatile tomato products and in Italy is commonly used as the base for a wide variety of recipes. Its smooth, velvety consistency makes it ideal for soups, meatballs, baked dishes, vegetables and recipes where a refined tomato sauce is desired without pieces of tomato. Because it is particularly suitable for short cooking times, it is also an excellent choice for quick everyday cooking.

What is a substitute for tomato passata?

If Passata is unavailable, the closest alternative is to blend Mutti Peeled Tomatoes or Mutti Chopped Tomatoes until smooth. This provides a similar tomato flavour while allowing you to adjust the texture according to your recipe.
Tomato Paste diluted with water can also be used if needed, although it will deliver a richer and more concentrated tomato flavour than Passata.

What is the cooking time for Mutti Passata?

Mutti Passata is particularly suitable for recipes requiring short cooking times. Around 2–5 minutes of cooking is more than enough to preserve the Passata’s naturally sweet taste, bright red colour and velvety texture. For longer cooking times Mutti Polpa is generally the best way to go.

What is tomato paste best used for?

Mutti Tomato Paste is ideal whenever you want to intensify the flavour and texture of the tomato. Its concentrated flavour makes it perfect for enriching ragù, soups, stews, braised dishes, sauces and marinades. Even a small quantity adds depth, colour and richness without increasing the liquid content of the recipe.

When to use peeled tomatoes?

Mutti Peeled Tomatoes are the ideal choice whenever you want to fully control the final texture of your dish. They can be used whole, crushed by hand, chopped or blended, making them particularly suitable for pasta sauces, pizza, soups, slow-cooked dishes and traditional Italian recipes. Their firm, fleshy texture allows them to hold their shape during cooking while developing a rich, authentic tomato flavour.

Why use tomato paste instead of tomatoes?

Tomato Paste offers a much more concentrated tomato flavour than fresh tomatoes or other tomato products. Because much of the water has been removed during production, it provides greater depth of flavour, a richer colour and a thicker consistency, making it ideal whenever a recipe requires an intense tomato character.

Mutti Company

Is Mutti Italian?

Yes. Mutti is proudly Italian. Founded in Parma in 1899, Mutti produces tomato products using only 100% Italian tomatoes, working closely with Italian farmers and processing the tomatoes at the peak of their ripeness to preserve their flavour, colour and quality.

What is so special about Mutti tomatoes?

For over 125 years, Mutti has focused on one mission: transforming the highest-quality Italian tomatoes into exceptional tomato products.
Mutti works closely with its network of Italian growers, selecting tomatoes according to strict quality standards and harvesting them at the perfect stage of ripeness. The tomatoes are processed shortly after harvest to preserve their fresh flavour, vibrant colour and natural characteristics.
This dedication to quality, combined with continuous innovation and expertise, is what makes Mutti products distinctive.

Where can I find Mutti products?

Mutti products are available in many countries around the world through supermarkets, grocery stores and online retailers. To find the products available next to you, please contact your local Mutti distributor for more information on product availability.

Who is Francesco Mutti?

Francesco Mutti is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mutti S.p.A. and represents the fourth generation of the Mutti family leading the company.
Under his leadership, Mutti has continued to strengthen its focus on premium-quality tomato products, sustainable innovation and close partnerships with Italian tomato growers, while expanding the brand internationally.

Who owns the Mutti company?

Mutti is an independent Italian family-owned company, founded in 1899 in Parma. Today, the company continues to be led by the Mutti family, preserving the same commitment to quality, innovation and respect for Italian tomato-growing traditions that has defined the brand for more than a century.