Chicken sausages
Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage
12 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- No additives
Why it scores 60
Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage scores 60 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 5 points Salt 1.5 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better sausages
-
Organic Chicken Sausage Wild Mushroom with Italian Herbs Bilinski's · 12 oz/340 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 99 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Organic Bratwurst Savory Herb Chicken Sausage Whole Foods Market · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 99 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Fully Cooked Chicken Sausage Jones Dairy Farm · 48 oz/3 lb/1.36 kg Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 93 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Organic Chicken Sausage Jones · 2 lb Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Roasted Red Pepper & Garlic Chicken Sausage Open Nature · 12 oz/340 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 32 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Chicken Sausage
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 162 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 16.2 g / 100 g plus 4 points
Bonuses
- No additives plus 3 points
100 − 40.5 = 59.5 → 60
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 162 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2.9 g |
| Sugars | 1.5 g |
| Added sugars | 0.3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 16.2 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 1 link (68 g)
Ingredients
- SKINLESS CHICKEN MEAT
- WATER
- SEASONINGS (TURBINADO SUGAR, SEA SALT, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, DEHYDRATED ONION, BASIL, PARSLEY, NATURAL FLAVORINGS)
- ROASTED GARLIC
Label text, as published
SKINLESS CHICKEN MEAT, WATER, SEASONINGS (TURBINADO SUGAR, SEA SALT, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, DEHYDRATED ONION, BASIL, PARSLEY, NATURAL FLAVORINGS), ROASTED GARLIC.
Allergens and diets
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More chicken sausages on GoodSwap
-
Chicken Sausage Kirkland Signature · 48 oz High in salt Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Organic Basil & Cracked Black Pepper Smoked Chicken Sausage Sabatino's · 36 oz High in saltCertified organicNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Chicken & Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage Aidells · 12 oz Contains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugarsNo additives Score 43 out of 100 Okay -
Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage Trader Joe's · 12 oz High in saltContains nitrites or nitratesNo additives Score 77 out of 100 Good -
Apple Chicken Sausage Never Any! · 12 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 28 out of 100 Poor -
Chicken & Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage Aidells · 40 oz High in saltContains added sugarsCertified organicNo additives Score 67 out of 100 Good
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
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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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
-
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
-
“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