Puffed salty snacks made from maize
Trader Joe's Reduced Fat Cheese Puffs
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 59
Trader Joe's Reduced Fat Cheese Puffs scores 59 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7 points Salt 2 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
- minus 3 points Saturated fat 3.6 g / 100 g: High in saturated fat. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better cheese puffs and curls
-
Lightly salted baked green pea & chickpea puffs, lightly salted Watusee Foods · 23 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 92 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Peanut butter puffs Bamba · 7 oz/200 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 20 points higher -
Pirates booty Pirate's Booty · 6 oz/170 g Not ultra-processed Score 79 out of 100 , 20 points higher -
Hippeas salt Hippeas · 5 oz/142 g Not ultra-processed Score 79 out of 100 , 20 points higher -
Haldiram's boondi masala Haldiram's · 200 g Not ultra-processed Score 79 out of 100 , 20 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Reduced Fat Cheese Puffs
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Safflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 3.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 2 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 500 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 3.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 41 = 59
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 25 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 64.3 g |
| Sugars | 3.6 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 3.6 g |
| Protein | 7.1 g |
| Salt | 2 g |
Serving: 36 pieces (28 g)
Ingredients
- CORN MEAL
- EXPELLER PRESSED VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER, SAFFLOWER, CANOLA)
- CHEESE SEASONING (CHEDDAR CHEESE POWDER, WHEY POWDER, BUTTER, BUTTERMILK POWDER, SALT, COLOR ADDED, NATURAL FLAVOR)
- SEA SALT
Label text, as published
CORN MEAL, EXPELLER PRESSED VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER, SAFFLOWER AND/OR CANOLA), CHEESE SEASONING (CHEDDAR CHEESE POWDER [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME], WHEY POWDER, BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], BUTTERMILK POWDER, SALT, COLOR ADDED [ANNATTO EXTRACT AND TURMERIC], NATURAL FLAVOR), SEA SALT
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More puffed salty snacks made from maize on GoodSwap
-
Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips · 7 oz (198.4 g) Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Crunchy Cheetos · 1 oz (28.3 g) Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains seed oils Score 52 out of 100 Okay -
Original Sun Chips · 7 oz (198.4 g) Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo additivesContains whole grains Score 61 out of 100 Good -
Cheetos Crunchy Cheetos · 2 oz (56.7 g) Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains seed oils Score 52 out of 100 Okay -
Jalapeño Popper Flavored Popcorn Snack Popcorers · 6.5 oz Ultra-processedContains seed oils Score 58 out of 100 Okay -
Smartfood Doritos Nacho Cheese Smartfood · 1 and 61/4 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 17 out of 100 Bad
More from Trader Joe's
-
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Roasted & Unsalted Whole Cashews Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 96 out of 100 Excellent -
White Cheddar Popcorn Trader Joe's · 5 oz Score 58 out of 100 Okay
Sources
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“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
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“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
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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
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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
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“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
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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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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“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