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Trader Joe's Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Chicken sausages

Trader Joe's Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage

12 oz

Good out of 100 Medium confidence
  • High in salt
  • Contains nitrites or nitrates
  • No additives
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Why it scores 77

Trader Joe's Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage scores 77 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Processed (NOVA 3): Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. Emerging
  2. Cultured celery powder (natural nitrite source): Provides nitrite like synthetic curing salts. Regulatory
  3. Salt 1.6 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong

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

Better sausages

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

The Receipt

Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage

START100

Ingredients

  • Cultured celery powder (natural nitrite source)
    Regulatory Provides nitrite like synthetic curing salts. [1][2]
  • Wine
    Regulatory There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. [3][1]
subtotal−10

Processing

  • Processed (NOVA 3)
    Emerging Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. [4]
subtotal−8

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 2.4 g / 100 g
    Strong High in saturated fat. [5]
  • Salt 1.6 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [6]
  • Energy 176 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [7]
  • Protein 16.5 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [7]
subtotal−5
TOTAL 77Good

100 − 23 = 77

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

GTIN 00009885000075 · 2026-04-29

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy176 kcal
Fat10.6 g
Saturated fat2.4 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates4.7 g
Sugars2.4 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0 g
Protein16.5 g
Salt1.6 g

Serving: 1 link (85 g)

Ingredients

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

CHICKEN, DEHYDRATED APPLES, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, ROASTED ONION, CELERY JUICE POWDER, WHITE PEPPER, NUTMEG, THYME, GINGER, CHARDONNAY, ROSEMARY, IN A NATURAL PORK CASING.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Celery

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest chicken sausages in the US

More from Trader Joe's

Sources

  1. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  2. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2108 of 6 October 2023 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards food additives nitrites (E 249–250) and nitrates (E 251–252)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 6, 2023 · Law

    “the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  3. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

    U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Aug 14, 2026 · Regulator

    “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

    cdc.gov

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  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. Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat (IARC Monographs Vol. 114 working group summary)

    The Lancet Oncology · December 2015 · IARC

    doi.org