Crackers (Appetizers)
Trader Joe's Multigrain Pita Bite Crackers with Flax Seeds
6 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 32
Trader Joe's Multigrain Pita Bite Crackers with Flax Seeds scores 32 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Honey: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Molasses: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points 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 crackers
-
FLAX SEED plant-based organic crackers ROSEMARY Flackers · 5 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 68 points higher -
Flackers Organic Flax Seed Crackers - Sea Salt Doctor In The Kitchen · 5 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Flackers Organic Flax Seed Crackers - Savory Doctor In The Kitchen · 5 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 68 points higher -
Multigrain Flax Firehook · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Pita Crackers Sea Salt Savoritz · 5 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 87 out of 100 , 55 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Multigrain Pita Bite Crackers with Flax Seeds
Ingredients
- Honey minus 20 points
- Molasses minus 20 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 1.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 429 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 10.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 14.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 68 = 32
Can’t score above 79. Contains honey, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 429 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67.9 g |
| Sugars | 3.6 g |
| Added sugars | 3.3 g |
| Fiber | 10.7 g |
| Protein | 14.3 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 10 crackers (30 g)
Ingredients
- UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- WATER
- WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR
- MULTIGRAIN BLEND (FLAX SEEDS, OAT BRAN, WHEAT BRAN, MILLET, ROLLED OATS, RYE MEAL, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, RYE MIDDLINGS, ORGANIC SPELT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR) (not recognized)
- SUNFLOWER OIL
- CORNSTARCH
- HONEY (high concern)
- YEAST
- OAT FIBER
- WHEAT BRAN
- WHEAT GLUTEN
- FERMENTED RYE FLOUR
- SEA SALT
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- OLIVE OIL
- DRY MOLASSES POWDER (MOLASSES, WHEAT STARCH) (high concern)
- DOUGH CONDITIONER (WHEAT STARCH, ASCORBIC ACID)
- BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CORNSTARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE)
Label text, as published
UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], WATER, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, MULTIGRAIN BLEND (FLAX SEEDS, OAT BRAN, WHEAT BRAN, MILLET, ROLLED OATS, RYE MEAL, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, RYE MIDDLINGS, ORGANIC SPELT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR), SUNFLOWER OIL, CORNSTARCH, HONEY, YEAST, OAT FIBER, WHEAT BRAN, WHEAT GLUTEN, FERMENTED RYE FLOUR, SEA SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, OLIVE OIL, DRY MOLASSES POWDER (MOLASSES, WHEAT STARCH), DOUGH CONDITIONER (WHEAT STARCH, ASCORBIC ACID), BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CORNSTARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
“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
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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