Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s leading consumer watchdog has delivered a blunt verdict on the state of supermarket pizzas: out of 150 tested, only two met basic nutritional standards. The OCU (Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios) assessed a wide range of frozen and chilled pizzas available across Spanish supermarkets. The results reveal that the majority are high in saturated fats, salt and additives.
It’s sobering reading—especially for someone like me, who loves pizza.
I love pizza—but this report was eye-opening
I cook pizzas from scratch at home, but I also buy ready-made ones for speed and ease. Like many, I knew supermarket pizza wasn’t exactly a healthy food, but I hadn’t realised just how poor the nutritional content really was.
The OCU found that some pizzas contain so much salt that eating just half can provide 50% of your recommended daily intake. Add low-grade oils and saturated fats into the mix, and it’s easy to see why they’re not suitable for regular consumption.
Even more frustrating is that despite the high calorie count—roughly 500 per portion—many pizzas don’t satisfy hunger for long. It’s easy to eat a whole one and still not feel full.
Only two pizzas get the green light
Only two vegetarian pizzas passed the OCU’s assessment:
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Garden Gourmet Veggie Lovers – praised for its vegetable content, low saturated fat and lack of additives. It’s the more expensive of the two at €6.89.
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Buitoni Forno di Pietra Vegetale – more affordable at €3.65, it also has a clean ingredient list and balanced nutrition, though it contains fewer vegetables.
Every other pizza tested failed to meet healthy eating guidelines.
Is it time to rethink pizza night?
The OCU recommends making your own pizza with fresh ingredients and olive oil—a message I’ll be taking to heart. A homemade base topped with vegetables, tuna or light cheese can be a simple, satisfying alternative.
But here’s another idea I’ve been toying with: what if we just shifted everything onto an omelette? Almost anything you’d put on a pizza—peppers, mushrooms, tomato, cheese—works just as well with eggs. It’s quick, high in protein, and generally lower in saturated fat.
Food labels still falling short
Another problem highlighted by the OCU is poor food labelling. Small print and unclear nutritional information make it harder for shoppers to make informed choices. The organisation is calling on the EU to introduce stricter labelling regulations that improve transparency and legibility.
Convenience shouldn’t cost you your health
For now, the message is clear: if you’re buying pizza from a supermarket in Spain, check the label. Look for vegetable-heavy options without additives—or better still, make your own. And if you’re short on time, maybe an omelette could scratch that pizza itch.
I’ll still eat pizza—of course I will—but this report has made me think twice about where it comes from, and what’s really in it.
Also read: These are the two best supermarket tortillas