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Trader Joe's Spanakopita
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Filled fritter garnished with vegetables

Trader Joe's Spanakopita

2 oz

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
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Why it scores 30

Trader Joe's Spanakopita scores 30 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, firming agent, flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging

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

Better frozen snacks and appetizers

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

The Receipt

Spanakopita

START100

Ingredients

  • Dextrose
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Milk protein concentrate / isolate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Calcium chloride
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Powdered cellulose
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Xanthan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Locust bean gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Canola oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [5][6][7][8]
  • Modified starch
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Modified cellulose
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Calcium lactate
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Calcium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [9]
  • Wheat gluten
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [10][4]
subtotal−33.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, firming agent, flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [4]
subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 4.7 g / 100 g
    Strong High in saturated fat. [11]
  • Salt 1.2 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [12]
  • Energy 259 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−11
TOTAL 30Poor

100 − 70.5 = 29.5 → 30

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

GTIN 00003802000087 · 2026-01-08

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy259 kcal
Fat14.1 g
Saturated fat4.7 g
Carbohydrates27.1 g
Sugars2.3 g
Fiber2.3 g
Protein7.1 g
Salt1.2 g

Serving: 3 piece (85 g)

Ingredients

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

FILLING (SPINACH, FETA CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CREAM, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, LACTIC ACID, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, CHEESE CULTURE, POWDERED CELLULOSE (ANTI-CAKING}], ONION, RICOTTA CHEESE [WHEY, MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, CITRIC ACID], CREAM CHEESE [MILK, CREAM, NONFAT MILK, SALT, GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM, CAROB BEAN GUM, CHEESE CULTURE], CANOLA OIL, CORN STARCH, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SALT, MODIFIED CELLULOSE, LACTIC ACID POWDER [LACTIC ACID, CALCIUM LACTATE], EGG, DILL WEED, BLACK PEPPER), PHYLLO PASTRY (UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], WATER, CANOLA OIL, FOOD STARCH [CORN STARCH, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE], UNSALTED BUTTER [CREAM (MILK}], DEXTROSE, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, SALT, YEAST, NATURAL FLAVOR. CONTAINS MILK, EGG, WHEAT.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Egg

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • 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. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  6. Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

    BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org

  8. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “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

  10. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  11. 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

  12. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  13. 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

  14. 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