Food
Trader Joe's Blueberry Waffles
11 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 24
Trader Joe's Blueberry Waffles scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener): An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better frozen waffles and pancakes
-
Wild Blueberry Waffle Lopaus Point No added sugars · No palm oil Score 64 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Blueberry Waffles Swapples · 13.6 oz/380 g Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 74 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Vans Blueberry Waffles No added sugars · No palm oil Score 67 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Organic blueberry waffles Annie's · 9.8 oz Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 48 out of 100 , 24 points higher -
Belgium waffles Trader Joe's · 4 No added sugars · No palm oil Score 67 out of 100 , 43 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Blueberry Waffles
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) minus 20 points
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 1.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 7.7 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 1.9 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 308 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 3.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 76.5 = 23.5 → 24
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 308 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 41 g |
| Sugars | 7.7 g |
| Added sugars | 5.1 g |
| Fiber | 3.8 g |
| Protein | 6.4 g |
| Salt | 1.4 g |
Serving: 2 waffles (78 g)
Ingredients
- water
- whole wheat flour
- enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- blueberry flavored nuggets (sugar, corn flour, palm oil, natural flavor, corn starch, fruit and vegeta - ble extracts [for color], dried blueberries)
- whey powder
- eggs
- leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate) (not recognized)
- soy lecithin (emulsifier)
- pear juice concentrate (high concern)
- pineapple syrup
- sea salt
- wheat bran
- clarified pineapple juice concentrate (high concern)
- natural flavor
- peach juice concentrate
Label text, as published
water, whole wheat flour, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) vegetable oil (canola and/or soybean oil), blueberry flavored nuggets (sugar, corn flour, palm oil, natural flavor, corn starch, fruit and vegeta - ble extracts [for color], dried blueberries), whey powder, contains 2% or less of: eggs, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate), soy lecithin (emulsifier), pear juice concentrate, pineapple syrup, sea salt, wheat bran, clarified pineapple juice concentrate, natural flavor, peach juice concentrate. contains: egg, milk, soy, wheat.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from Trader Joe's
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“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