GoodSwap Get notified
Trader Joe's Sweet & Spicy Pecans
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Pecan nuts

Trader Joe's Sweet & Spicy Pecans

5 oz, 142 g

Okay out of 100 High confidence
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • No additives
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 53

Trader Joe's Sweet & Spicy Pecans scores 53 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Powdered sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Processed (NOVA 3): Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. Emerging

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

The Receipt

Sweet & Spicy Pecans

START100

Ingredients

  • Powdered sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Canola oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
subtotal−42.5

Processing

  • Processed (NOVA 3)
    Emerging Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. [8]
subtotal−8

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 13.3 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [1]
  • Salt 0.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [9]
  • Fiber 6.7 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
  • Protein 33.3 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal0

Bonuses

  • No additives
    Info No food additives in the ingredient list. [8]
subtotal+3
TOTAL 53Okay

100 − 47.5 = 52.5 → 53

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

GTIN 00007880000083 · 2026-01-27

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy733 kcal
Fat66.7 g
Saturated fat6.7 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates23.3 g
Sugars13.3 g
Fiber6.7 g
Protein33.3 g
Salt0.4 g

Serving: 30g

Ingredients

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

PECANS, POWDERED SUGAR CANE SUGAR, TAPIOCA STARCH), CANOLA OIL, SPICES, CANE SUGAR, SALT. CONTAINS PECAN.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Tree nuts

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest pecan nuts 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. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

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

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. 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

  10. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  11. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int