Is Hellmann's mayonnaise the same as Best Foods?

Hellmann's and Best Foods are regional names for the same broader mayonnaise and condiment business. The two names remained separate because they had established regional markets, and both became part of Unilever in 2000.

Is Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise gluten free?

Yes. Hellmann's states that its United States Real Mayonnaise is gluten free. The product contains egg and soybean oil.

Does Hellmann's mayonnaise contain dairy?

Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is dairy free according to the United States Hellmann's FAQ. It does contain eggs, so dairy free does not mean vegan.

Is Hellmann's mayo genetically modified?

Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is not non-GMO, according to Hellmann's United States FAQ. Hellmann's offers an organic mayonnaise option that the company identifies as non-bioengineered under the organic standard.

Is Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise healthy?

Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise has 60 percent less calories and fat than regular mayonnaise, with 35 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per 1 tablespoon serving in the United States product information. Whether it is a suitable choice depends on the shopper's dietary needs and serving size.

Is Hellmann's chipotle mayo good?

Hellmann's Chipotle Mayonnaise is a flavored mayonnaise product with a chipotle profile, but taste is subjective. Its availability and formulation can vary by market, so the package and local product page provide the relevant current details.

Who owns Hellmann's?

Hellmann's

Ultimate ownerUnited KingdomUnilever PLC

Brand origin: British
Main production: Several countries, incl. Spain

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About Hellmann's

What is Hellmann's?

Hellmann's is a food brand best known for mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, spreads, and related condiments. Richard Reinhold Hellmann, a German immigrant, created the original mayonnaise in New York City. The brand began selling Hellmann's Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise in 1913. Unilever's history of the brand identifies Richard Hellmann as the creator of Hellmann's in New York in 1905. Hellmann's began as a mayonnaise brand and later expanded its portfolio to include ketchup, salad dressings, and flavored mayonnaises. In the United States, the principal product is sold as Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise. In some markets, the same mayonnaise line is sold under the Best Foods name. Hellmann's was sold in 65 countries in 2022, according to Unilever. Unilever also stated that approximately 1,000 Hellmann's products were sold globally every minute in 2022. The company said that Hellmann's had become a €2 billion brand after reporting year-on-year growth of 10 percent in 2020, 11 percent in 2021, and 20 percent in the first half of 2022.

Who owns Hellmann's?

Hellmann's is ultimately owned by Unilever PLC, according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Unilever PLC is a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Unilever acquired Bestfoods in 2000, bringing Hellmann's and Best Foods into the Unilever group. Unilever agreed on 6 June 2000 to acquire Bestfoods for $73 per share in cash. The transaction had an equity value of approximately $20.3 billion and included the assumption of $4 billion in Bestfoods debt. The ownership chain before Unilever included Richard Hellmann, Inc., Postum Foods, General Foods, The Best Foods, Inc., CPC International, Bestfoods, and then Unilever. Postum Foods acquired Richard Hellmann, Inc. in August 1927. Postum Foods later became General Foods, and Hellmann, Inc. was merged into The Best Foods, Inc. in 1931. Best Foods was acquired by the Corn Products Refining Company in 1958. That corporate predecessor became CPC International in 1969. CPC International split into Bestfoods and Corn Product International in 1997, with Hellmann's remaining within Bestfoods. Unilever acquired Bestfoods in 2000. Hellmann's and Best Foods are not separate owners of the same mayonnaise line. They are regional brand names used for the same broader line of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sauces, salad dressings, condiments, and other food products. Hellmann's is used in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in many other markets, while Best Foods has historically been used in parts of the western United States. The names remained separate because each had established regional markets. Duke's and Hellmann's are not the same company. The ownership data identifies Unilever PLC as Hellmann's ultimate owner. The available brand history does not identify Duke's as part of the Hellmann's or Unilever ownership chain.

Where does Hellmann's come from?

Hellmann's originated in New York City, where Richard Reinhold Hellmann opened a delicatessen at 490 Columbus Avenue in 1905. He developed a ready-made mayonnaise there. Richard Hellmann and his wife, Margaret, sold their homemade mayonnaise in glass jars marked with a blue ribbon beginning in 1913. Hellmann began selling the product under the name Hellmann's Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise on 1 September 1913. Richard Hellmann sold the delicatessen and opened a mayonnaise factory in Manhattan in 1915. The factory allowed the business to move from delicatessen production to commercial mayonnaise manufacturing. Postum Foods acquired Richard Hellmann, Inc. in August 1927, allowing Richard Hellmann to retire. Hellmann's expanded nationwide in the United States by the end of the 1920s. Hellmann's began major advertising in the 1930s after its acquisition by Best Foods. The advertising used magazines and recipe materials to promote mayonnaise as an ingredient in cooking. Best Foods acquired Hellmann's while also selling Best Foods Mayonnaise. The two mayonnaise brands retained separate names because they had established regional markets. Hellmann's launched in the United Kingdom in 1961 and subsequently expanded into Latin America, Europe, Canada, and South Africa. Hellmann's held more than 50 percent of the mayonnaise market in the United Kingdom by the end of the 1980s.

What products does Hellmann's make?

Hellmann's makes mayonnaise, light mayonnaise, organic mayonnaise, plant-based mayonnaise, flavored mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, spreads, and ketchup. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is made with soybean oil, water, whole eggs, distilled vinegar, egg yolks, salt, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium EDTA, and natural flavors, according to the United States product information. The product contains egg. Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise uses water, soybean oil, modified food starch, sugar, distilled vinegar, salt, whole eggs, egg yolks, lemon juice concentrate, preservatives, natural flavor, paprika extract, and vitamin E. The United States product page lists 35 calories and 3.5 grams of total fat per 1 tablespoon serving. Hellmann's offers organic mayonnaise as a separate recipe. The company states that Hellmann's Organic Mayonnaise is formulated with organic ingredients and without calcium disodium EDTA, allowing it to be certified USDA Organic. Hellmann's also sells plant-based mayonnaise. The plant-based product does not contain eggs and is presented as a vegan alternative to traditional mayonnaise. The product range varies by market. Hellmann's product listings include organic, alternate-oil, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and flavored categories. Products have also included chipotle-flavored mayonnaise, avocado-oil mayonnaise, and Dijonnaise, although availability can vary by country and over time.

Is Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise real mayonnaise?

Yes. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is a mayonnaise made with oil, eggs, vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, and seasonings. Its United States ingredient list includes soybean oil, whole eggs, egg yolks, distilled vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium EDTA, and natural flavors. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is not vegan because it contains eggs. The product is made with pasteurized eggs in the United States, according to Hellmann's. In the United Kingdom, Hellmann's states that its mayonnaise uses pasteurized free-range eggs.

Is Hellmann's mayo gluten free and dairy free?

Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is gluten free and dairy free according to the United States Hellmann's FAQ. The FAQ states that the product contains no dairy or milk-derived ingredients and is gluten free. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise contains egg and soybean oil. Gluten-free and dairy-free status can differ by product, country, or formulation, so the ingredient and allergen statement on the specific package remains relevant.

Is Hellmann's mayonnaise healthy or bad for you?

Whether Hellmann's mayonnaise fits a healthy diet depends on the product, serving size, and the rest of a person's diet. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is a calorie-dense condiment because its main ingredient is soybean oil. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise provides omega-3 ALA and has 0 grams of carbohydrates and 0 grams of added sugars per serving, according to the company's United States FAQ. The product is not certified keto, although Hellmann's says it can be used in keto-friendly recipes. Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise has 60 percent less calories and fat than regular mayonnaise. Its United States product page lists 35 calories, 3.5 grams of total fat, and 110 milligrams of sodium per 1 tablespoon serving. Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise is not automatically healthier for every shopper. It has a different formulation that includes modified food starch and other ingredients not found in the regular product. Comparing the nutrition label for the particular product and serving size gives the most direct basis for choosing between them.

Is Hellmann's mayonnaise bioengineered or genetically modified?

Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is not labeled non-GMO in the United States, according to Hellmann's. The company states that the product's soybean oil is among ingredients that may come from bioengineered crops and that the product is not non-GMO. Hellmann's explains that nearly all soybean and canola crops in North America are bioengineered and that the label text was added to comply with a United States Department of Agriculture rule. Hellmann's Organic Mayonnaise is a separate option made with organic ingredients. Hellmann's states that organic ingredients cannot be derived from bioengineered foods. The answer can differ by product. A shopper should check the package for the specific bioengineered food disclosure and the current ingredient statement.

Is Hellmann's mayonnaise halal, kosher, or vegan?

Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is certified Kosher Parve by the Orthodox Union in the United States, according to Hellmann's. The same product is not vegan because it contains eggs. Hellmann's Vegan Mayo is made without eggs and is presented by Hellmann's as a plant-based alternative to classic mayonnaise. Halal certification is product-specific, and the available United States information does not establish a halal certification for every Hellmann's mayonnaise product. Shoppers should check the certification mark on the package sold in their market.

Is Hellmann's canola mayo discontinued, and are other products still available?

Hellmann's product availability varies by country, retailer, and time, so a former canola-oil, avocado-oil, or other specialty product may not be available everywhere. Hellmann's current product listings include an alternate-oil category, but the available information does not establish a single worldwide discontinuation date for every canola mayonnaise product. The same applies to Hellmann's Dijonnaise and flavored products such as chipotle mayonnaise. A product may remain available in one market while being absent from another. The most reliable check is the current product listing and the package sold in the shopper's country.

Frequently asked questions about Hellmann's

Who owns Hellmann's mayonnaise in the USA?: Hellmann's mayonnaise in the United States is ultimately owned by Unilever PLC, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Unilever acquired Bestfoods, the owner of Hellmann's at the time, in 2000.
Is Hellmann's mayonnaise the same as Best Foods?: Hellmann's and Best Foods are regional names for the same broader mayonnaise and condiment business. The two names remained separate because they had established regional markets, and both became part of Unilever in 2000.
Is Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise gluten free?: Yes. Hellmann's states that its United States Real Mayonnaise is gluten free. The product contains egg and soybean oil.
Does Hellmann's mayonnaise contain dairy?: Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is dairy free according to the United States Hellmann's FAQ. It does contain eggs, so dairy free does not mean vegan.
Is Hellmann's mayo genetically modified?: Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise is not non-GMO, according to Hellmann's United States FAQ. Hellmann's offers an organic mayonnaise option that the company identifies as non-bioengineered under the organic standard.
Is Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise healthy?: Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise has 60 percent less calories and fat than regular mayonnaise, with 35 calories and 3.5 grams of fat per 1 tablespoon serving in the United States product information. Whether it is a suitable choice depends on the shopper's dietary needs and serving size.
Is Hellmann's chipotle mayo good?: Hellmann's Chipotle Mayonnaise is a flavored mayonnaise product with a chipotle profile, but taste is subjective. Its availability and formulation can vary by market, so the package and local product page provide the relevant current details.
What are the ingredients in Hellmann's mayonnaise?: Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise in the United States contains soybean oil, water, whole eggs, distilled vinegar, egg yolks, salt, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium EDTA, and natural flavors. It contains egg and the recipe can vary among products and countries.