Heinz Just Released a Canned Spaghetti Carbonara — and Some Chefs Aren’t Pleased

Heinz wants to make your next Italian-inspired meal even easier — but not everyone is happy about it. 

In late August, Heinz announced it’s now selling canned Heinz Spaghetti Carbonara in UK stores as a “fail-proof, quick, and easy Carbonara that comes with absolutely zero drama.” The company noted that it created the product after listening on social media and hearing people say over and over again how difficult it can be to perfect carbonara.

“I’ve tried this way too many times now, still fails,” one Reddit user lamented. “Carbonara is all about the technique and prep,” one more shared. So, the chefs at Heinz worked diligently to create a heat-and-go version everyone can enjoy. 

“We understand that people are looking for convenient meals that are effortless to prepare, and our new Spaghetti Carbonara delivers just that. It’s the perfect solution for a quick and satisfying meal at home,” Alessandra de Dreuille, meals director at Kraft Heinz, said in a statement provided to Food & Wine. “Whether enjoyed as a comforting meal after a long day or shared with friends whilst catching “up on the latest TV series, Heinz Spaghetti Carbonara is the perfect fuss-free dinner solution.”

The cans are going for about  £2.00 both in stores and at heinztohome.co.uk. While this seems like an easy solution to many, it appears the Italians are none too pleased. And it begins with Heinz’s choice of ingredients. 

You see, the brand lists “Spaghetti Pasta and Pancetta in a cheese sauce for a rich & creamy flavor,” which sounds close to the traditional recipe of pasta, egg yolk, a sharp sheep’s milk cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, pepper, and pancetta. However, when you look at the actual ingredient list on Heinz’s can, things get a little more lengthy and look like this: 

Pasta (45%, Durum Wheat Semolina), Water, Pancetta (1%, Pork (95%), Salt, Spices, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Acidity Refulators – Sodium Citrate and Sodium Carbonate, Antioxidant – Sodium Ascorbate, Preservative – Sodium Nutrition, Smoked Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavouring), Cornflour, Skimmed Milk Powder, Cheese Powder Blend (1%, Contains Milk), Milk Powder, Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Modified Cornflour, Stabilisers – Polyphospates and Sodium Phosphates, Natural Garlic Flavouring, Black Pepper, Onion Extract, Dried Parsley. May Contain: Sulphites.

Beyond the ingredients, chefs are also taking notice of the very idea of the can itself. “I don’t really know how to respond to this. Shouldn’t we stick to putting things like Coca-Cola in a can,” chef Alessandro Pipero, of Pipero in Rome, shared with The Guardian. 

Ciara Tassoni, the manager Bottega Prelibato in London, additionally shared with The Sun, “It’s a disgrace, and it couldn’t be any further from authentic carbonara … If somebody came in here and asked for a can of carbonara, they would immediately be thrown out.”

But here’s the major difference: A plate of pasta at Bottega Prelibato starts at £16, or £14 more than the canned version from Heinz. And maybe, just maybe, we should allow people to enjoy things however they wish.

Even Pipero softened his statement toward the end of his interview, adding that the idea is “genius” and “industrious.” Still, he said he’d rather not try it for himself. And that’s OK. He doesn’t have to. But you can. Even without their permission.