Ice creams
Trader Joe's Mint chip Ice cream
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 32
Trader Joe's Mint chip Ice cream scores 32 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 11 points Sugars 24.3 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better ice cream
-
Mint Chocolate Chip Flavor N!ck's · 1 pint/473 mL Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 55 out of 100 , 23 points higher -
Sea Salt & Honeycomb Ice Cream Tillamook Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 75 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
S’mores Pint Ice Cream Favorite Day · 473 mL Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 91 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Kroger Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Kroger · 1 gal/3.78 L Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Halo Top Ice Cream Chocolate Vanilla Twist Wells Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 67 out of 100 , 35 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Mint chip Ice cream
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Soy lecithin minus 2.5 points
- Vegetable gums (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Locust bean gum minus 1.5 points
- Guar gum minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 24.3 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 10.7 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 264 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 68.5 = 31.5 → 32
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 264 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 16.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 10.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26.4 g |
| Sugars | 24.3 g |
| Added sugars | 20.7 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 3.6 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 1 serving (140 g)
Ingredients
- CREAM
- MILK
- CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- CHOCOLATE FLAVORED CHIPS (SUGAR, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, COCONUT OIL, BUTTER OIL, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT)
- SUGARED EGG YOLKS (EGG YOLKS, SUGAR)
- PEPPERMINT EXTRACT
- STABILIZER BLEND (CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, CANE SUGAR)
Label text, as published
CREAM, MILK, CANE SUGAR, CHOCOLATE FLAVORED CHIPS (SUGAR, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, COCONUT OIL, BUTTER OIL, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), SUGARED EGG YOLKS (EGG YOLKS, SUGAR), PEPPERMINT EXTRACT, STABILIZER BLEND (CAROB BEAN GUM, GUAR GUM, CANE SUGAR
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Egg
- Not vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More ice creams on GoodSwap
-
Homemade Vanilla Blue Bell Ice Cream · 473 mL Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 7 out of 100 Bad -
Gelato - Madagascan Vanilla Bean Talenti · 473 mL Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 12 out of 100 Bad -
Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Tillamook · 1.5 qt Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 35 out of 100 Poor -
Half Baked Ben & Jerry's · 1 pt Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 7 out of 100 Bad -
Ice cream Natural Strawberry Breyers · 1.5 quart Ultra-processedContains added sugarsNo additives Score 46 out of 100 Okay -
Phish Food Ice Cream Ben & Jerry's · 1 pint, 458 mL Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 9 out of 100 Bad
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
-
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
-
“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