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What are the best bone broths to buy for 2025 + which broths to avoid (+ why!). I looked into this issue for you with health in mind. That means: I looked at sourcing, packaging, additional ingredients and the diet of the animals.
The results you’ll find below are quite different than what other articles tell you.
I only found four companies whose broth I would drink regularly. And with my preferences for quality + my food restrictions, there are only two broths below that I use.
I think you’ll be surprised how many bone broths seem healthy, but really, they’re not.
Most of the other articles written on this topic simply rank the best selling broths. They take terms like “grass fed” at face value and don’t look at the true nutrition or risks in each broth.
Benefits of buying bone broth
Although I’ve made my own for years, and we even owned a bone broth café, I still see two reasons why many people benefit from buying bone broth:
- Good bone broth products are standardized, so we know we’re getting a concentrated dose of collagen (not collagen peptides, which is different and more refined). The extraction of amino acids can vary in homemade batches quite a bit.
- Many people would not get bone broth at all without commercially made products. Convenience. Frequency of consumption.
Best Bone Broths to Buy: Sourcing of bones & animal husbandry
A lot of bone broths masquerade as healthy. But, what really makes bone broth healthy?
Healthy animals make healthy bones and broth. While many bone broth companies use grass-fed beef, these same cattle are actually finished on grain.
Bone broth needs to source from grass-finished animals.
Grain-fed beef and broth is estrogenic.
Unfortunately, even the term pasture-raised has now been hijacked and is used deceptively. (What pasture-raised should mean is that cows graze on grass their whole lives right up until they’re slaughtered. But companies use the term loosely to mean the animal was pasture-raised at any one point in their life [yet finished on grain in a feedlot].)
Also, most articles about the “best” bone broths are not accurate:
- For example, these articles (1, 2) mention the minerals inherent in quality bone broth. Bone broth is actually not mineral-rich at all. (What we get from the long cooking time is more protein.) (source)
- Largely written by AI or ghost writers, the articles repeat and parrot the same information written everywhere else.
- Recommended broths often contain unhealthy additives.
- Issues like sourcing of bones, packaging and company values are not explored.
- Articles often mention whether or not broths are GM or organic, but we need to look beyond those buzz words.
Which broths aren’t nightshade free and/or AIP
Of course, most bone broths on the market should be avoided for healthy diets, because the animals the broths are sourced from are not grass-finished. But some of the bone broths that seem healthier should also be looked at closely.
Some of the more popular broths use tomato to create a richer flavored product. Watch out for these if you react to or avoid nightshades, and observe ingredients closely.
Other ingredients for everyone to avoid: yeast extract, natural flavors and spices, terms which may legally be used for MSG.
Similarly, watch out for ingredients like xanthan gum, guar gum (emulsifiers), maltodextrin (an anti-caking agent) and stevia (in the sweetened bone broths).
The following (often-recommended) broths use tomato, or other non-AIP ingredients, so avoid them for AIP or nightshade-free diets: Bare Bones and Ancient Nutrition.
What’s the best packaging for bone broth
Tetra Paks are the most common packaging for broths, but in fact, they come with serious hazards.
Single use plastic is common packaging for bone broth powders.
The best packaging options are glass, paper, and to a lesser extent, lightweight thin recyclable material.
I understand most of you don’t want to stress over packaging. But it’s always good to raise awareness of our choices, so in that spirit, I discuss these packaging options more. Also, it isn’t too hard to opt for the better options below:
Tetra Paks (how healthy are they)
- Tetra Paks, while deemed safe by most people, actually degrade and leach into the contents of the packaging (your broth).
- 24% polyethylene plastic and 6% aluminum make up the lining of this packaging. (source)
- Avoid Tetra Paks. Because we drink bone broth for its health benefits, it’s not beneficial to consume plastics and heavy metals at the same time. Conclusion: For regular use, look for the best alternative.
Plastic
- Bone broth packaged in single use plastic has two drawbacks, both for health and environmental reasons.
- Most bone broth powders are sold in plastic containers. Health-wise, because this food is not wet or heated in the plastic, it is likely affected very little by the packaging. But, avoid any products with packaging labeled with the numbers 3, 6 or 7. Unfortunately, this labeling is not mandatory. (source)
- Environmentally, 70% of all plastic packaging is derived from fossil fuels. Plastic manufacturing contributes as much as 1% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. (sources 1, 2, 3) By choosing foods not packaged in plastic, we help to reduce emissions.
- Lastly, very little plastic is recyclable in most cities. So that canister or bag will end up in the landfill or the ocean.
Glass
- Bone broth sold in glass jars is a good option, but harder to find. One leading brand is sold in glass jars, but none of the ingredients are organic. (This is shocking to me. Please avoid conventional products. Conventionally grown chicken is not health food, and their bones are not safe.)
- Toxic compounds called chlorohydrins have been detected in foods closed in glass screw-cap jars.
- Despite chlorohydrins, it’s hard to trace any negative impacts on health or the environment resulting from packaging in glass.
Note: While packaging is important, the bone broth product itself needs to be pesticide and GM-free, as well as grass-finished. If you see a glass jar of bone broth, check to be sure it’s an organic product.
Paper (wins)
- A polyethylene (PE) plastic sealant to keep the product fresh oftentimes lines single use paper packets. But, increasingly, these are made from biopolymers to provide a more eco-friendly approach. (source)
- Paper packaging and its coating aren’t ideal for the environment when made with PE, but increasingly bone broth companies are using newer more natural technology.
- If made with biopolymers, this packaging is a good alternative to petroleum-based packaging.
Best Bone Broths to Buy: Who owns the bone broth company?
Advertising on bone broth packaging would lead us to believe that the companies care about our health and animal welfare.
But, does the company really care about our health or the environment?
Or, are the words on the packaging used as a marketing gimmick to sell bone broth?
Sadly, mass corporations built for profit now own bone broth companies. These monopolies invest in other companies that actually harm human health and the environment.
One example is Vital Proteins brand of bone broth, now owned by Nestlé. As you may know, Nestlé has committed egregious crimes of child slave labor in West Africa for their chocolate manufacturing. Despite initial promises, 20 years later, this company still supports abuse for profit, affecting 2.1 million children. (source) Please do not ever buy any Nestlé products, including Vital Proteins.
The takeaway is: If you’re going to buy any brand of bone broth repeatedly, check into who owns the company and that company’s mission statement, other investments and core values.
Long enough cooking time of the bones
Most bone broths on the market do cook their bones for a minimum of 18 to 24 hours, which earns the product the title of bone broth.
A shorter cooked broth is sometimes okay, too, for smaller bones. With big bones, a short cook time yields fewer amino acids. (source)
Some less-good bone broths actually boil their bones for too long or at too high of temperatures, resulting in bitter tasting broth (caused by the proteins denaturing).
Finally, the amount of free glutamate in bone broth increases with the length of time it’s cooked. While the topic is a bit controversial, if you get a headache (or other symptoms: insomnia, anxiety, racing heart, exacerbated pain where you’ve had chronic pain or difficulty concentrating) from drinking long-cooked broth, know it’s okay to stop and try Meat Stock instead.
Does bone broth have to gel to be good
Actually, no.
Your homemade or store bought broth may have had a long cooking time and be very concentrated with collagen, but still be thin.
Typically, the longer collagen is heated, the shorter the resulting polypeptides. So sometimes a very long-simmered bone broth will not gel.
However, a good-quality bone broth will have a decent amount of protein per serving, usually between 8 to 10 grams, or higher. Protein indicates the amino acids in the broth.
A gel is great, though. This assures us that the ratio of bones to water was high, and that the broth is rich with gelatin.
Best store bought bone broth brands to consider
Store bought bone broth comes in three forms: frozen, cartons off the shelf and powder form (either in packets or canisters).
Best frozen bone broths
1. Bonafide
- Pros: Made with organic chicken and vegetables. Gels when chilled. Good flavor. Frozen for integrity of nutrition. No additives or preservatives. No plastics used in the cooking process, no tap water. Lab tested and lead-free, which is especially helpful to know because they use sea salt in their recipe which can be contaminated with lead. Their broth is cooled completely before being filled into BPA + EA free bags. Created by a GAPS practitioner. 10 grams of protein per cup.
- Cons: No specific information about the chickens other than organic and free-range, which are loose terms. They definitely need to have supplemental feed, so what is it? Usually it’s soy and corn. I have emailed this company but have not yet heard back from them. Contains apple cider vinegar, so not fruit-free. Expensive (but understandably).
- Find Bonafide Bone Broth here.
Best bone broth in a carton
2. Kettle and Fire
- Pros: Made with organic chicken or beef bones, high in protein, good flavor options, no MSG or other additives. Non-GMO. The website claims the beef is grass-finished. Nightshade-free. Of the packaging they say, “Our cartons are made of FSC Certified Paperboard, fully recyclable, and produced in a factory certified to meet World-Class Manufacturing standards.” I emailed this company and heard back from them that their packaging is considered eco-friendly because it uses 80+% renewable resources. Less expensive than the above frozen products. 10 grams of protein per cup.
- Cons: PACKAGING — Packaged in Tetra Paks. Although their packaging uses plant polymers like sugarcane-based plastic, Tetra Paks still use plastic and metal materials that shed into our broth. For a health food, the emphasis should be equally on health and the sustainability of the packaging. Right now, Tetra Pak is eager to share the renewable nature of their components, but NOT about how healthy it is for humans to drink out of these containers regularly. COST — Some people claim that it’s a bit expensive. But honestly, you don’t get this quality of a product for a cheap price. To me the price seems fair for the quality of product.
- Side notes: Veggies are added to the broth, which makes it less pure for those who have food sensitivities. A very small amount of onion and other vegetables, but no nightshades.
- Find Kettle and Fire here.
- Pros: Made with organic chicken or beef bones, high in protein, good flavor options, no MSG or other additives. Non-GMO. The website claims the beef is grass-finished. Nightshade-free. Of the packaging they say, “Our cartons are made of FSC Certified Paperboard, fully recyclable, and produced in a factory certified to meet World-Class Manufacturing standards.” I emailed this company and heard back from them that their packaging is considered eco-friendly because it uses 80+% renewable resources. Less expensive than the above frozen products. 10 grams of protein per cup.
Best powdered bone broths
3. Bluebird Provisions — The newer kid on the block … now well-established
- Pros: Bluebird Bone Broth is made from pasture-raised, certified organic chickens. They offer both frozen bone broth pouches (only in Canada) and shelf-stable bone broth powder. Their powder is VERY versatile and contains only one ingredient! (So, allergy-free, and AIP-compliant.) I now use it regularly, as it’s easy to keep in the cupboard, then so nice to have it on hand when I need it. I use it when I’m making soups or sauces. It mixes in very well to water. All of Bluebird’s bone broths use truly sustainable packaging. Slow cooked with low heat. Lab tested and free of heavy metals.
- Cons: By the mug, all by itself, I don’t find the powdered broth makes the most delicious broth. (But I do like its flavor fine in soups, gravy and sauces.) You can’t get the liquid broth outside Canada, and it’s made with more ingredients than their powdered product (so less allergy-friendly). A bit expensive.
- I still highly recommend this company’s powdered broth (even if I don’t enjoy it by the mug). For cooking, I think it may be the best option available: a truly clean, well-sourced and well-prepared product, with sustainable packaging, small and privately owned, free of extra ingredients that many people can’t have. Can be used in smoothies, with 10 grams of collagen per serving.
- I reached out to this company because I like their product, and they kindly gave my readers a discount code! At checkout, use code MEGAN15 for 15% off your order. Find their Chicken Bone Broth Powder HERE.
- Pros: Bluebird Bone Broth is made from pasture-raised, certified organic chickens. They offer both frozen bone broth pouches (only in Canada) and shelf-stable bone broth powder. Their powder is VERY versatile and contains only one ingredient! (So, allergy-free, and AIP-compliant.) I now use it regularly, as it’s easy to keep in the cupboard, then so nice to have it on hand when I need it. I use it when I’m making soups or sauces. It mixes in very well to water. All of Bluebird’s bone broths use truly sustainable packaging. Slow cooked with low heat. Lab tested and free of heavy metals.
4. Paleovalley
- Pros: It’s hard to beat Paleovalley’s sourcing and quality: Made with grass-finished beef. Convenient powder. Can even be used in smoothies, coffee (just stir it in, or blend it in if you want it foamy) or baked goods, because it has a mild flavor. Better than collagen, but can be used similarly. Very high protein of 15 grams per serving. Non-GM, pesticide-free grass. Third party tested for pesticide residue. Not collagen peptides (which is highly processed). Only 2 ingredients (bones and water), great for AIP or most restricted diets. No additives at all. No antibiotics or hormones given to the cows. 60-day money back guarantee. Now offered in four flavors.
- Cons: Not as flavorful as some broths, to drink by the mug, but still good. Blend with a little sea salt to enjoy it as broth. This is not a negative for everyone, but if you want the full rich flavor of broth, it is. Expensive but fair price. PACKAGING UPDATE: I emailed Paleovalley about their packaging and was sorry to hear they use traditional plastics and aluminum. While powdered products will be less affected by these sorry ingredients, they are also not renewable.
- DISCOUNT CODE: Overall I still appreciate this company, but hope they improve their packaging (feedback from consumers helps). Eat Beautiful readers can enjoy 15% off with this link. If you Subscribe, there’s a 30% off discount (!), and shipping is free if you buy a few containers. Lots of good savings.
Final powdered product:
5. Bare Bones (I do not recommend this product, but it is the third best powdered product on the market for flavor and moderately decent ingredients. Use caution: it does contain maltodextrin and is not sourced from pasture-finished animals. This product is not AIP.)
- Pros: Bare Bones has a good flavor on its own. Bare Bones is tested, and is negative, for heavy metals. Bare Bones is organic. Comes in a convenient powder form. One packet can replace one bouillon cube. 10 grams of protein per serving.
- Cons: It contains maltodextrin (an anti-caking agent), has 3 grams of carbs per serving and is not technically Paleo, Ancestral or Keto. Does not come from pastured animals. Contains nightshades, not AIP-friendly.
- Find Bare Bones here.
If you have a bone broth that isn’t mentioned here: I did not feature bone broth companies that aren’t using organic and/or pasture-finished animals. I consider it harmful to consume the water from simmered bones of conventionally raised animals.
What makes bone broths healthy when trying to choose a brand
What makes bone broths healthy is the kind of animals from which they’re sourced. The broth is only as healthy as the food the cows or chickens are fed and the way they’re treated.
This means they need to be grazing on pesticide-free grass, without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics. If their diet is supplemented, it should be with non-GM grain that’s sprouted or fermented to support its digestion.
From the broth, we consume compounds that reduce inflammation. We ingest a variety of non-essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein that help to create elasticity and healing in our skin, joints, cartilage, bones and digestive lining.
When the gut heals, our immune system is able to balance itself.
The gelatin in broth (and meat stock) helps restore the strength of the gut lining and can resolve food sensitivities.
So, we don’t want a product with lead, pesticide residue or one that’s estrogenic because the cows were fed soy or corn.
Instead, healthy broth, should soothe, restore and help the body to detoxify.
Tips when buying broth Conclusion
To sum up this article, here are the bullet points:
- Don’t be fooled by marketing that advertises: “grass-fed”, “non-GMO”, “no growth hormones” or “keto/paleo-friendly”. While these selling points are important, the wording is often a smoke screen for not complying with even more important measures.
- Look not just for “organic” or “pasture-raised”. Seek out grass-finished and the fine print on a company’s website (or email them) about how they raise their animals.
- Many bone broth articles recommend bone broth products with yeast extract or other additives. This is unacceptable. A food with added glutamate or emulsifiers should not be considered health food.
- Look for packaging that doesn’t degrade into the broth. Glass and paper are best. Frozen bone broths seem like a good alternative to Tetra Paks. Powdered broth is another good option, if the packaging used is sustainable.
- My favorite broth to buy is Bluebird Provisions’ Bone Broth Chicken Powder (find it here). Use code MEGAN15 at check out for 15% off your order.
Best alternative to buying bone broth
For me, the best alternative to buying bone broth is: making Meat Stock. Find easy fastest 15 Minute Meat Stock Recipe here, or Meat Stock from Ground Beef here.
Meat stock is rich in gelatin and very fast to make. It’s more gentle than bone broth and buttery in flavor.
Meat stock is high in collagen and wonderful for healing. It’s lower in glutamic acid and histamines.
If you’re really after the higher level of glutamic acid in bone broth, I recommend using a pressure cooker to make homemade bone broth; it’s the fastest, easiest and the most mess-free method.
This article shares how to make Meat Stock or Bone Broth in a pressure cooker (your Instant Pot or similar).
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Katie Opitz says
I really like the flavor of Kettle and Fire. I have also tried Flavor Chef. They are made in small batches and are organic. I also like the powdered bone broth from Truvani. Curious if you have tried either of those and if you like them.
Megan says
Hi Katie, thanks for sharing that you like Kettle and Fire’s flavor! Regarding Flavor Chef, they are making some good choices with small batch cooking and organic ingredients. Downsides of the chicken product is that the chickens are fed corn and soy. The beef is grass-finished, so that’s good, but the company talks very little about actual sustainability, so we don’t know what else the cows eat. Having worked closely with farms for our café and being a raw milk pick up location for many years, we know that cows have to have supplemental feed when the pastures aren’t lush. The fact that Flavor Chef uses corn and soy fed chickens and they do not talk about pesticide-free grass or third party testing makes me suspicious of their beef feed as well. Beef feed should be organic and sprouted or fermented. Lastly, I did email them about their packaging and am waiting to hear back about the materials used in their bags. Re Truvani, this company says about their products that they use organic “if possible”. This is a giant red flag in the food industry. I would steer clear of their products.
Katie says
Megan, thank you so much for your feedback. I am certainly glad to know about the corn and the soy fed chickens with the Flavor Chef bone broth. Two things I strongly try to avoid (if I know about it!) I appreciate you sharing your research with all of us! You are amazing and I love following your blog!
Megan says
Thank you, Katie!! I appreciate your encouragement, and I’m so glad the information is helpful!
San says
What about the bone broth powder from perfect supplements?
Megan says
Hi San, while I love Perfect Supplements in general, and their sourcing, I find their bone broth powder to be very bitter in flavor. I am sorry to not be able to recommend it and hope they’ll change their recipe.
Laura says
Thank you of the great article and the research on this! I was just wondering if you looked into the bone broths available at Azure Standard. Namely, the brand ‘The Flavor Chef’ seems like a good option.
https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/food/soups-broths/aseptically-packaged/beef/frozen/bone-broth-beef-grass-fed-organic-frozen/20422?package=FG863
https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/food/soups-broths/aseptically-packaged/chicken/frozen/bone-broth-chicken-auto-immune-protocol-organic-frozen/25954?package=FG0038
Megan says
Hi Laura, great questions and you’re welcome. 🙂 Here are a few thoughts to consider: the chicken they’re using is Mary’s, which is organic, but the chickens are fed corn and soy. The beef broth says grass-finished, so that’s good. The broth is made in stainless steel, but there is no photo or information on how it’s then packaged, except that it’s frozen. So, it looks to be better than many options out there. But the big question remains about the packaging, and then the feed is not ideal. For those who need the added information, it’s not AIP due to the peppercorns and is not fruit-free, as it’s made with lemon and apple.
Rob says
Hi! Ive been concerned about the lead content of bone broths since I want to use it to cook baby food – how did you get the lab tested data saying they were lead free?
Megan says
Hi Rob, the companies have this testing done themselves.
Kim says
Thanks for this great article! I’m considering using the Paleo Valley Bone Broth powder, but in your review of it, you didn’t mention if it was lead free or not. Also, the chocolate one says it has maltodextrin in it (tapioca) and I think you said that wasn’t a good thing. I currently am using Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. I have used them for about 10 years. Yikes- didn’t know about the child labor and didn’t know the difference between the broth and peptides. Please let me know about the lead in the Paleo Valley one. Thank you!!
Megan says
Hi Kim, you’re welcome, and happy to help. You can email the company, and I’m sure you’ll get a detailed response, but lead is much more of an issue with bone broth from chicken, especially those that include the skin and cartilage. PV’s is made from grass-finished cows. 🙂
Ashley says
Would the Bare Bones organic liquid bone broth be the best choice since they test for heavy metals? Lead feels like the biggest concern to me out of everything in consideration. Also, PFAS could be in the water used to make any of these bone broths.
Megan says
Hi Ashley, Some other considerations: what packaging are they using for their liquid broth? If they do not care about animal sourcing, do they care about water sourcing, the PFAS you mention? I think it’s better to go with a company that shows in all arenas they care about health. I can’t trust their packaging, animals or water. Heavy metals are important, though, and it’s great they test for them.
Deb says
I drink 16 oz of Kettle & Fire chicken bone broth daily for a clean/healthy protein. My diet is otherwise mostly plant based. Would the beef bone broth be a cleaner/healthier choice? I dislike soups and broths, so flavor is not a consideration for me (truth be told, I drink it holding my nose so I don’t taste it). Do you have concerns about using powdered bone broth, which is highly processed? I clicked your link to Bonafide, but it is out of stock at Amazon. Would Bonafide or Osso be a better choice than Kettle and Fire for a clean healthy protein? I have Kettle and Fire bone broth auto-shipped, and I can tell you they have excellent customer service.
Megan says
Hi Deb, one option (although it may sound weird if you haven’t done it before) is to do kinesiology holding the different brands, if you can get each one, or the ones you’re the most interested in, and do muscle testing to see which one your body likes best. Here are some teachers sharing how to do this: https://bit.ly/bone-broths I know that may not resonate, but it’s one more way to be sure you get the right product for your body. Typically when deciding between beef and chicken, it comes down to if the cows graze on pesticide-free grass right up until slaughter. If they do, then beef is healthier than chicken in my opinion (for most people, sensitivities aside). Yes, too bad about Bonafide. I am continuing to look for an alternative. I do think the broths that are not in cartons are a better choice. I don’t think the powdering process is ideal, except when a company simply dehydrates their product (there is one company I’m looking at currently that does this, and I’ll update the article soon). Whole food products packaged in glass are best. I don’t like Kettle and Fire’s tetra paks, so that’s something to consider.
Britney says
So what was the conclusion to Kettle & Fire… have you confirmed them lead free or lower levels? I don’t think I caught that anywhere in the article??
Megan says
Hi Britney, I just updated this article with all the latest feedback I got from company emails and added a new product option. Kettle & Fire does not test for heavy metals, and I think the one we could be more concerned about (over lead) is aluminum, because of their Tetra Pak packaging. Hopefully both lead and aluminum would show ND, but we don’t have the testing to know for sure. For now, you might consider this broth for occasional use but one like Bluebird (newly added) for regular use.