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Trader Joe's Chicken Tikka Masala
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Chicken tikka masala

Trader Joe's Chicken Tikka Masala

8.5 oz (241 g)

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 39

Trader Joe's Chicken Tikka Masala scores 39 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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 frozen meals

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

The Receipt

Chicken Tikka Masala

START100

Ingredients

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

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [8]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added) and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [8]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 0.6 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [9]
  • Protein 8.7 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal+1
TOTAL 39Poor

100 − 61 = 39

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

GTIN 00009200009141 · 2026-06-14

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy149 kcal
Fat5.8 g
Saturated fat1 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates16.2 g
Sugars2.5 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0.4 g
Protein8.7 g
Salt0.6 g

Serving: 1 tray (241 g)

Ingredients

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

CHICKEN TIKKA: CHICKEN BREAST, TOMATOES (WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES, TOMATO JUICE, SALT), ONIONS, WATER, CANOLA OIL, YOGURT (CULTURED PASTEURIZED NONFAT MILK, CREAM), CREAM, NONFAT DRY MILK, SPICES, GARLIC, CASHEWS, LEMON JUICE (WATER, CONCENTRATED LEMON JUICE), SALT, BUTTER, SUGAR, POTATO STARCH, SYRUP BLEND (RICE SYRUP, GRAPE JUICE), TAPIOCA STARCH, OLEORESIN OF PAPRIKA, CLARIFIED BUTTER (GHEE), FENUGREEK LEAVES, CILANTRO, TURMERIC, VINEGAR, MANGO POWDER. CUMIN RICE: WATER, BASMATI RICE, CANOLA OIL, CLARIFIED BUTTER (GHEE), CUMIN SEEDS. CONTAINS MILK, CASHEWS

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Tree nuts

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest chicken tikka masala 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. 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

  11. 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