This product is not certified organic [read more]
Products bearing the USDA certified organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredient, and must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and free of genetically engineered ingredients.
Contains food additives of lower concern
Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Palm Oil [read more]
Both refined oils and fully hydrogenated oils contain small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats and contribute to the total intake of trans fat in the diet (Biofortis 2014). Artificial trans fats are generated in refined oils when they are processed at high temperatures from the crude oil into a bland, odorless, colorless oil (Greyt 1999). A 2012 study conducted by FDA scientists estimated that refined oil contributes an average 0.6 grams of trans fat a day (Doell 2012). The World Health Organization recommends limits on trans fat of less than 1 to 2 grams a day—in this context, it’s easy to see that 0.6 grams is not an insignificant contribution. In the case of fully hydrogenated oils, they should theoretically be free of trans fat, but since no hydrogenation process is 100 percent efficient, trans fats are often found in fully hydrogenated oils at low levels (FDA 2013). The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrition Database has tested refined, partially hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated oils and found trans fats in all of them (USDA 2013).Textbooks for food scientists reveal that the mono and di-glycerides and other emulsifiers are often made from hydrogenated fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008) and at temperatures above 220°C (Sikorski and Kolakowka 2011). Emulsifiers produced from hydrogenated fats “contain measurable concentrations" of trans fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008).Unfortunately, due to lack of label disclosure and the trans fat labeling loophole, only the food scientists will ever know just how much trans fat these refined oils and emulsifiers are contributing to foods and the American diet.
EWG calculates that this product is 40% sugar by weight and contains 5 teaspoons of added and natural sugar per serving [read more]
Eating too much of any type of sugar can lead to tooth decay. Added sugars like high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar and dextrose are more concerning than natural sugars like raisins because they can lead to obesity by adding calories without being accompanied by important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C or fiber. Americans average 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day (NCI 2010; USDA and DHHS 2010). The World Health Organization recommends no more than 6 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar a day for adults, children should eat even less (WHO 2002; WHO 2014).
Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor" [read more]
Added "flavors" are secret and often complex mixtures of chemicals that modify and manipulate the taste and smell of food. The lack of disclosure is a public right to know issue and especially concerning to people with unusual food allergies or on restricted diets.
Contains a high level of saturated fat [read more]
Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010). For this reason it has long been known as a "bad" fat that raises the "bad" cholesterol, LDL. Numerous authoritative bodies support the recommendation to limit saturated fat to 10 percent of calories -- equivalent to a reasonable limit of 14 slices of bacon's worth of saturated fat a day (WHO 2002; USDA and DHHS 2010).A 2012 review by the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent non-profit organization, found that reducing or replacing saturated fat with other healthy fats reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 14 percent (Hooper 2012). Other recent reviews have found that there in no evidence of a benefit from reducing saturated fat (Chowdhury 2014; Schwingshackl & Hoffmann 2014). While it's clear that we still have a lot to learn about how fats behave and contribute to disease, the evidence supporting a moderate level of saturated fat consumption remains strong and consistent.
Product has been classified as having moderate processing concerns
Includes ingredient(s) derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and/or growth promoters: Milk (Fat Free) and Milk [read more]
This food contains ingredient(s) from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters.
Natural vs. Artificial Flavors
EWG's Good Food On A Tight Budget
EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide to Avoiding GE Food
Why GE Foods are not "Natural"
EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce
From the Package
CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PEANUTS, VEGETABLE OIL (PALM KERNEL AND PALM OIL), PEANUT FLOUR, NONFAT MILK, LESS THAN 2% OF COCOA, MILK, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, ANNATTO COLOR.
Products remain in the Database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores, even when they have been discontinued (products may remain in stores and pantries long past the date they cease to be manufactured). EWG marks a product it is aware has been discontinued with a banner identifying it as such.
FAQs
FooDB is the world's largest and most comprehensive resource on food constituents, chemistry and biology. It provides information on both macronutrients and micronutrients, including many of the constituents that give foods their flavor, color, taste, texture and aroma.
How do EWG ratings work? ›
To calculate a product score, we review individual ingredient hazards and evaluate each product in relation to the rest of the products in the Skin Deep database. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.
What is the ultra-processed food score? ›
The Siga Index also defines ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as those with a score below 40, which are considered to have low nutritional value and high levels of additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients.
Who is the most accurate source of nutrition information? ›
Registered dietitians or professionals with advanced degrees in the field of nutrition are the most credible sources for sound nutrition advice.
Is there an app that tells you how good your food is? ›
Yuka is a free mobile app that allows you to scan the barcodes of food and personal care products and instantly see their impact on your health. A rating and detailed information help you understand the analysis of each product.
What are the criticisms of the EWG? ›
According to Kavin Senapathy of Science Moms, the EWG "frightens consumers about chemicals and their safety, cloaking fear mongering in a clever disguise of caring and empowerment." His main criticisms are its use of "fundamentally flawed" methodologies for evaluating food, cosmetics, children's products, and more, and ...
How credible is EWG? ›
The EWG is considered trustworthy insofar as they do good, transparent research on the most important ingredients in public health. There have been claims online by various sources that the EWG tends to slightly overstate the danger of an ingredient, but they do not ever understate danger.
What site is better than EWG? ›
Top 7 Competitors & Alternatives to ewg.org
The closest competitor to ewg.org are heb.com, incidecoder.com and skinsafeproducts.com. To understand more about ewg.org and its competitors, sign up for a free account to explore Semrush's Traffic Analytics and Market Explorer tools.
What is the number one unhealthiest food? ›
The Top 10 Worst Foods to Eat
- Processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, and cold cuts.
- Sodas.
- White bread.
- French fries.
- Fast food burgers.
- Donuts.
- Processed cheese.
- Potato chips.
Here is a short list of some unhealthy processed foods to avoid:
- Sugary beverages such as sweetened coffee and tea, energy drinks and soft drinks.
- Deli meats, hot dogs and sausages.
- Frozen pizza and frozen meals.
- Packaged snacks such as chips, cookies, crackers and baked goods.
- Most breakfast cereals.
- Canned or instant soups.
Used for oatmeal, rolled oats are lightly processed to make them edible. The oat groats (grain kernels) are steamed, flattened, and dried. They still contain all three parts of the grain—the bran, germ, and endosperm—so they retain all of the fiber and other nutrients.
Is peanut butter ultra-processed? ›
You could just crush up peanuts and get peanut butter that's minimally processed. You could add salt, sugar, and oil and get a processed version. Or some of the peanut butter you find at the store could contain preservatives or emulsifiers, and that makes it ultraprocessed.
Are Ritz crackers ultra-processed? ›
The same company, Mondelēz International, makes crackers that would be considered ultra-processed, Ritz Original, and ones that aren't ultra-processed, Triscuit Original. Triscuit has three ingredients: whole grain wheat, canola oil and sea salt. Ritz crackers contain the emulsifier soy lecithin and natural flavor.
Which bread is not ultra-processed? ›
Wholegrain and dark rye breads are less processed than white breads, for example, and they tend to have more nutrients. Ezekiel breads and authentic sourdoughs are also great options.
What is the best website for food information? ›
Nutrition
- MyNetDiary. ...
- MyPlate. ...
- Nourish by WebMD. ...
- Nutrition.gov. ...
- NutritionFacts. ...
- SELF Nutrition. ...
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Agency charged with ending hunger and obesity through federal nutrition assistance programs. ...
- Verywell Calorie Counter. Look up nutrition facts and view food labels for 250,000+ foods.
For meal planning: MyFitnessPal
Not only does it have a database with over 14 million verified foods, but the app also tracks patterns to help you understand how your food choices impact your health, energy, mood, and focus, she explains.
What is the largest food nutrition database? ›
The FatSecret Platform API provides access to the largest source of verified accurate food and nutrition data globally, available in 24 languages and in excess of 56 countries. There are more than 1.9 million unique foods and products.
What is the most accurate food pyramid? ›
The Healthy Eating Plate and the companion Healthy Eating Pyramid summarize the best dietary information available today. They aren't set in stone, though, because nutrition researchers will undoubtedly turn up new information in the years ahead.
This product is not certified organic [read more]