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

Fried rice

Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice

16 oz

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
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Why it scores 48

Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice scores 48 out of 100 (Okay) 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. Salt 0.8 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong

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

Better frozen meals

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

The Receipt

Vegetable Fried Rice

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Wine
    Regulatory There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. [4][5]
  • Alcohol (ethanol)
    Regulatory IARC classifies alcoholic beverages as Group 1; the small amounts used as a solvent in flavorings are not comparable with drinking. [5][4]
  • Canola oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [6][7][8][9]
  • Dextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [10]
  • Xanthan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [10]
subtotal−29.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [10]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [10]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 0.8 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [11]
subtotal−3
TOTAL 48Okay

100 − 52 = 48

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

GTIN 00005214000082 · 2026-08-19

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy153 kcal
Fat1.6 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates30.8 g
Sugars2.5 g
Added sugars0.6 g
Fiber1.3 g
Protein3.8 g
Salt0.8 g

Serving: 1 serving (159 g)

Ingredients

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

COOKED RICE (RICE, WATER), CARROTS, EDAMAME (SOYBEANS), CORN, GREEN PEAS, LEEKS, RED BELL PEPPERS, SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT. SALT), SWEET COOKING RICE WINE (WATER, MIRIN [WATER, RICE, ALCOHOL, SALI, KUI (ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE}], SUGAR, LACTIC ACID). CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF CANOLA OIL, SUGAR, ONIONS, SEAWEED EXTRACT (WATER, KELP EXTRACT, DEXTRIN, ALCOHOL, SALT, XANTHAN GUM), SALT, SESAME OIL.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sesame

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest fried rice in the US

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. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

    U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Aug 14, 2026 · Regulator

    “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

    cdc.gov

  5. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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