Hey, we get it—Whole Foods makes bone broth look like a steal at $6–$9 for a 24-oz carton. But here's the tea (or broth): Those are shelf-stable factory brews, simmered in massive vats for weeks of travel, then pumped with "flavors" and concentrates to mimic the real deal. Mine? Simmered fresh in small batches with whole, local veggies and bones—no junk, no mystery powders, straight-from-the-kitchen goodness that hits different (and better) for your gut and taste buds.
Quick Ingredients Showdown: My Homemade vs. Whole Foods FavesWe pulled the labels from popular Whole Foods picks (Bonafide, Kettle & Fire, and their house brand 365). See how my simple, real-food list stacks up—no additives, no extracts, just pure nutrition.
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Ingredient/Source
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My Original Chicken Bone Broth ($15/32oz)
homemade
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Bonafide Organic Chicken ($7.99/24 oz)
amazon.com
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Kettle & Fire Organic Chicken ($8.99/32 oz)
amazon.com
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365 by Whole Foods Organic Low-Sodium ($4.99/32 oz)
wholefoodsmarket.com
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Bones/Base
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1 lb fresh chicken bones (local, no antibiotics) + filtered water
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Organic free-range chicken bones + filtered water
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Organic free-range chicken bones + water
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Filtered water + organic chicken stock (concentrated)
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Veggies
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fresh onion, fresh garlic, fresh carrots, fresh celery
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Organic onion, organic garlic, organic parsley
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Organic onions, organic carrots, organic fennel, organic leeks, organic thyme, organic shiitake mushrooms
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Organic carrot juice concentrate, organic onion powder, organic celeriac juice concentrate
|
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Acid/Flavor Boost
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fresh lemon
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Organic apple cider vinegar
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Organic apple cider vinegar, organic tamarind paste, organic bay leaves, organic tomato paste, mushroom extract
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None (relies on "organic chicken flavor")
|
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Salt/Seasoning
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Himalayan sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
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Sea salt (Celtic)
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Sea salt
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Sea salt
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Additives/Extras
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Zero—nothing hidden
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None
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None (but more "flavor enhancers" like mushroom extract)
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Organic chicken flavor (yeast-derived?), organic chicken fat
|
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Why It Matters
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Whole, fresh produce = max nutrients, no processing loss. Tastes like grandma's kitchen.
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Cleaner than most, but factory-simmered and frozen for shipping.
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Organic veggies galore, but extracts amp the "umami" without real depth. Shelf-stable magic.
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Budget-friendly, but "flavors" and concentrates = less real bone goodness, more shelf life.
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The Verdict: Factory broths cut corners with powders and pastes to survive grocery shelves (and keep prices low). My $25/64-oz jar? Twice the size, quadruple the freshness—simmered slow with whole ingredients you can pronounce and see. It's not just broth; it's wellness in a mason jar.
Skeptical? Grab one and taste the difference (we'll convert you).