Frozen vegetables
Trader Joe's Mandarin Style Orange Chicken Bowl
13 oz (369 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 52
Trader Joe's Mandarin Style Orange Chicken Bowl scores 52 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 3 points Sugars 5.4 g / 100 g: Contains some sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
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Chicken Fajita Protein Bowl Cedarlane Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 97 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Adodo Chicken Grain Bowl Whole & Simple · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 99 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Kung Pao Chicken Trader Ming's · 23 oz (1 lb 7 oz) 652 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 95 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
PROTEIN BOWL Chickpea Masala Tasty Bite · 8.8 oz/250 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Chicken & Spinach Garlic Alfredo Bowl Vital Pursuit · 290 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 88 out of 100 , 36 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Mandarin Style Orange Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Soybean oil minus 2.5 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.4 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 1.4 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 0.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 48 = 52
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 146 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 22.8 g |
| Sugars | 5.4 g |
| Added sugars | 4.9 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 7.6 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g |
Serving: 1 bowl (369 g)
Ingredients
- Cooked Rice (Enriched Long Grain Rice, Water)
- Chicken Leg Meat
- Broccoli Florets
- Sugar (high concern)
- Water
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Cornstarch
- Vegetable Blend (Peas, Carrots, Salt)
- Water
- Soy Sauce (Water, Soybean, Wheat Flour, Salt)
- Soybean Oil
- Water Chestnuts
- Shallots
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Liquid Whole Egg
- Modified Cornstarch
- Soy Sauce Concentrate (Soybean, Wheat Flour, Salt, Water)
- Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Green Onion
- Orange Peel
- White Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
Label text, as published
Cooked Rice (Enriched Long Grain Rice, Water), Chicken Leg Meat, Broccoli Florets, Sugar, Water, Distilled White Vinegar, Cornstarch, Vegetable Blend (Peas, Carrots, Salt), Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybean, Wheat Flour, Salt), Soybean Oil, Water Chestnuts, Shallots, Whole Wheat Flour, Liquid Whole Egg, Modified Cornstarch, Soy Sauce Concentrate (Soybean, Wheat Flour, Salt, Water), Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onion, Orange Peel, White Pepper, Cayenne Pepper. Contains Egg, Soy, Wheat.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
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Sweet Peas Great Value · 32 oz/2 lb/907 g No additives Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
Seasoned Veggies Mediterranean Blend Green Giant · 9 oz/255 g Ultra-processedContains seed oils Score 74 out of 100 Good -
Pacific Protein Blend Olive Oil & Seasoned Whole Foods Market · 12 oz Ultra-processedContains seed oils Score 78 out of 100 Good -
Sweet corn elote bowl Purple Carrot · 10.75 oz/304 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effectsContains seed oils Score 31 out of 100 Poor
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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
-
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
-
“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