Sausages
Trader Joe's sliced UNCURED PEPPERONI
5 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 14
Trader Joe's sliced UNCURED PEPPERONI scores 14 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better salami and pepperoni
-
Uncured Hard Salami & Pepper Jack Jack Link's · 15 oz Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 62 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Uncured Finocchiona Salami, Uncured Finocchiona Coro · 5 oz Not ultra-processed · No dextrose Score 57 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Uncured hard salami Naturalissima · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 59 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Italian Uncured Soppressata Salami Good & Gather Signature · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No sugar Score 59 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Uncured Pepperoni • Yellow Vermont Cheddar Cheese Boar's Head Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 64 out of 100 , 50 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
sliced UNCURED PEPPERONI
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Cultured celery powder (natural nitrite source) minus 7.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 13.8 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 4.1 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 448 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 20.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 86 = 14
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 448 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 37.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 13.8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3.4 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 20.7 g |
| Salt | 4.1 g |
Serving: 8 slices (29 g)
Ingredients
- Pork
- sea salt
- mustard seed
- sugar (high concern)
- salt
- extractives of paprika
- garlic powder
- natural flavors
- paprika
- cultured Swiss chard powder (moderate concern)
- dextrose (high concern)
- acerola cherry powder
- lactic acid starter culture
- garlic
Label text, as published
Pork, sea salt, mustard seed, sugar, salt, extractives of paprika, garlic powder, natural flavors, paprika, cultured Swiss chard powder, dextrose, acerola cherry powder, lactic acid starter culture, garlic.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Mustard, Celery
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More sausages on GoodSwap
-
Chicken Breakfast Links Amylu · 40 oz Score 89 out of 100 Excellent -
Cooked Uncured Polish Sausage Teton Waters Ranch · 10 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Andouille Chicken Sausages Amylu · 40 oz High in salt Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Turkey Smoked Sausage Hillshire Farm · 13 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 21 out of 100 Poor -
Bun Size Beef Ball Park · 15 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitrates Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Beef Franks Bun-Length Oscar Mayer · 15 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitrates Score 37 out of 100 Poor
More from Trader Joe's
-
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Crispy Oatmeal Cookies with Sea Salt Trader Joe's · 7 oz Score 12 out of 100 Bad -
Green Chile Chicken Bowl Trader Joe's · 9.5 oz Score 58 out of 100 Okay
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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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