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Trader Joe's Cultured Pasteurized Organic Low Fat Milk
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

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Trader Joe's Cultured Pasteurized Organic Low Fat Milk

100 g

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Certified organic
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Why it scores 61

Trader Joe's Cultured Pasteurized Organic Low Fat Milk scores 61 out of 100 (Good) 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. Certified organic: Carries a certified-organic label. Info

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

Better milk

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

The Receipt

Cultured Pasteurized Organic Low Fat Milk

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • 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. [4][5]
  • Pectin
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
subtotal−25

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [5]
subtotal−19.5

Bonuses

  • Certified organic
    Info Carries a certified-organic label. [6][7]
subtotal+5
TOTAL 61Good

100 − 39.5 = 60.5 → 61

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

GTIN 00005080000056 · 2026-04-11

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy65 kcal
Fat0.9 g
Saturated fat0.6 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates11.2 g
Sugars9.4 g
Added sugars1.7 g
Fiber0 g
Protein3.5 g
Salt0.1 g

Serving: 0.75 cup (170 g)

Ingredients

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

Cultured pasteurized organic low-fat milk, organic sugar, organic natural vanilla flavor, pectin, vitamin D3. Contains live and active cultures: Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L. paracasei, Streptococcus thermophilus, L. rhamnosus.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk

  • Not vegan
  • 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. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · May 30, 2018 · Law

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  7. 7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Feb 17, 2010 · Law

    “Any agricultural product that is sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be: (a) Produced in accordance with the requirements specified in § 205.101 or §§ 205.202 through 205.207”

    ecfr.gov

  8. 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

  9. 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