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Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Chocolate croissant

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants

12 oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Seed-oil free
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Why it scores 27

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants scores 27 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Saturated fat 12.9 g / 100 g: Very high in saturated fat. Strong

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

Better croissants, sweet rolls and pastries

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Chocolate Croissants

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Chocolate (sweetened, ingredient)
    Strong Contains added sugar. [1]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [4][5]
  • Soy lecithin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
  • Wheat gluten
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
subtotal−33

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, flavoring and industrial protein. [5]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 12.9 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 12.9 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [6]
  • Salt 0.7 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [7]
  • Energy 376 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−19
TOTAL 27Poor

100 − 73 = 27

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

Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]

GTIN 00009108000073 · 2026-04-17

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy376 kcal
Fat21.2 g
Saturated fat12.9 g
Trans fat0.6 g
Carbohydrates42.4 g
Sugars12.9 g
Added sugars12.9 g
Fiber2.4 g
Protein7.1 g
Salt0.7 g

Serving: 1 croissant (85 g)

Ingredients

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

UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], ASCORBIC ACID [DOUGH CONDITIONER], ENZYMES), BUTTER (CREAM [MILK], NATURAL FLAVORS), WATER, SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN [EMULSIFIER], NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR), SUGAR, YEAST, DOUGH CONDITIONER (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED WHEAT FLOUR, ASCORBIC ACID, ENZYMES), SALT, WHEAT GLUTEN.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten

May contain: Tree nuts, Egg

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest chocolate croissant 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. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org