Prepared meats
Trader Joe's Smoked Turkey Breast
7 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 50
Trader Joe's Smoked Turkey Breast scores 50 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Invert sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Carrageenan: In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better deli meat
-
Organic Applewood-Smoked Turkey Breast 365 Whole Foods Market · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Simply Nature · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 96 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Applegate Naturals · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 93 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Turkey Breast Plainville Farms · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 99 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast True Story · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 94 out of 100 , 44 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Smoked Turkey Breast
Ingredients
- Invert sugar minus 20 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 2.1 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Protein 19.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 50 = 50
Can’t score above 79. Contains invert sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 107 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.8 g |
| Sugars | 1.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 19.6 g |
| Salt | 2.1 g |
Serving: 2 slices (56 g)
Ingredients
Label text, as published
TURKEY BREAST, WATER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SEA SALT, EVAPORATED CANE SYRUP, VINEGAR, CARRAGEENAN.
Allergens and diets
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More prepared meats on GoodSwap
-
Smoked Snack Stick Slim Jim · 8 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitrates Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Turkey Pepperoni Hormel · 6 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 21 out of 100 Poor -
Turkey Bacon Butterball · 12 oz Ultra-processedContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 30 out of 100 Poor -
Venison Strip Sea Salt + Pepper with Beef Ground & Formed Meat Strip Epic · 0.8 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Boneless Ham Steak Smithfield Anytime Favorites · 8 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 31 out of 100 Poor -
Oven Roasted Turkey Land O'Frost · 9 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 23 out of 100 Poor
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
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.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
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org