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Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Food

Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

40 g

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Seed-oil free
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Why it scores 35

Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips scores 35 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Sugars 46.7 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better baking chips

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Soy lecithin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Alcohol (ethanol)
    Regulatory IARC classifies alcoholic beverages as Group 1; the small amounts used as a solvent in flavorings are not comparable with drinking. [5][6]
subtotal−25

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
subtotal−18

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 46.7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 16.7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [7]
  • Energy 533 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Fiber 6.7 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
subtotal−22
TOTAL 35Poor

100 − 65 = 35

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]

GTIN 00000452000092 · 2026-03-30

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy533 kcal
Fat26.7 g
Saturated fat16.7 g
Carbohydrates66.7 g
Sugars46.7 g
Added sugars46.7 g
Fiber6.7 g
Protein5.3 g

Serving: 1 serving (15 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

CANE SUGAR, UNSWEETENED, CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, (EMULSIFIER), VANILLA EXTRACT (WATER, ETHYL, ALCOHOL, VANILLA BEAN EXTRACTIVES)

Allergens and diets

Contains: Soy

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

More from Trader Joe's

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  6. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

    U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Aug 14, 2026 · Regulator

    “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

    cdc.gov

  7. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  8. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org