Food
Trader Joe's Plain Bagels
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 45
Trader Joe's Plain Bagels scores 45 out of 100 (Okay) 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 1.3 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better bagels
-
Plain Bagels Kroger · 20 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Hero Classic Plain Bagels Hero · 13.2 oz No added sugars · No seed oils Score 73 out of 100 , 28 points higher -
Plain Bagels Wegmans · 21.0 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 69 out of 100 , 24 points higher -
Plain Bagels Silver Hills · 14 oz/400 g Not ultra-processed · No xanthan gum Score 68 out of 100 , 23 points higher -
Mini Bagels Plain Bagelista Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 75 out of 100 , 30 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Plain Bagels
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 2.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 1.5 points
- Calcium phosphate 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
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 263 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 55 = 45
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 263 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52.5 g |
| Sugars | 4 g |
| Added sugars | 4 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Protein | 4 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 1 bagel (99 g)
Ingredients
- water
- brown rice flour tapioca starch
- potato starch
- cane sugar (high concern)
- expeller pressed canola oil
- whole grain sorghum flour
- egg whites
- cultured brown rice flour
- xanthan gum
- tapioca maltodextrin
- sea salt
- yeast baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate sodium bicarbonate, potato flur monocalcium phosphate)
- calcium sulfate
- enzymes
Label text, as published
water, brown rice flour tapioca starch, potato starch, cane sugar, expeller pressed canola oil, whole grain sorghum flour, egg whites, cultured brown rice flour, xanthan gum, tapioca maltodextrin, sea salt, yeast baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate sodium bicarbonate, potato flur monocalcium phosphate), calcium sulfate, enzymes. contains eggs.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Egg
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
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
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“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
-
“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