Fact check: Peppermint alfredo pasta sauce is not a real Ragú product – USA TODAY

The claim: Ragú released limited edition peppermint alfredo pasta sauce

With every holiday season, new flavors of everyday products are released, like Coca-Cola Cinnamon and Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry, or sugar cookie-flavored almonds.

But a Facebook post claims to have found a more bizarre combination: a peppermint and cheese sauce.

“Just in time for a festive holiday,” reads the caption of a Dec. 13 Facebook image of an apparent limited-edition jar of Ragú peppermint alfredo sauce.

The post accrued over 1,000 shares in two days. 

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Similar claims surfaced this fall, with images purporting to show black licorice hot dogs and pumpkin spice bologna. USA TODAY debunked both as false.

This claim is more of the same. Ragú confirmed it has not released any such product – to the relief of tastebuds everywhere.

USA TODAY reached out to the poster for comment.

Company did not release holiday flavor

Some Facebook users believed the sauce was real.

“I love peppermint so I’m sure I would love it,” one user commented.

Another wrote: “Clearly several people at Ragu thought it was a good idea or it wouldn’t have made it to production.”

But Ragú has not released a peppermint alfredo pasta sauce, according to Deborah Cross, director of communications at Mizkan America, the company that owns Ragú.

“We have not launched this product and have no plans at this time to do so,” Cross told USA TODAY in an email.

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USA TODAY didn’t find where the image originated, but it appears to be an alteration of the brand’s “Classic Alfredo” bottle, which has a blue and yellow label and lid that match the jar shared on Facebook.

Ragú’s website features every type of sauce the brand manufactures, and the peppermint-flavored sauce isn’t listed. 

“While it’s certainly festive and creative, it might not be a fan favorite at mealtimes,” Cross said.

Our rating: Altered

Based on our research, we rate ALTERED a photo claiming to show Ragú released limited edition peppermint alfredo pasta sauce. A company spokesperson told USA TODAY Ragú did not release such a product and has no plans to do so. The image appears to be an alteration of the brand’s “classic alfredo” sauce.

Our fact-check sources:

• USA TODAY, Nov. 4, Fact check: Despite viral image, Oscar Mayer is not selling black licorice hot dogs called ‘Hallowieners’
• USA TODAY, Nov. 3, Fact check: Photo purporting to show Oscar Mayer’s pumpkin spice bologna is altered
• Deborah Cross, Dec. 15, email exchange with USA TODAY
• Ragú, accessed Dec. 15, About
• Ragu, accessed Dec. 15, “Our sauces”

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