Frozen foods
Lean Cuisine Sesame Chicken
9 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 51
Lean Cuisine Sesame Chicken scores 51 out of 100 (Okay) 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 3 points Sugars 5.9 g / 100 g: Contains some sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
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Chicken Fajita Protein Bowl Cedarlane Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 97 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Tuscan-Inspired Chicken Hungryroot · 340 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
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The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Sesame Chicken
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 49 = 51
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 149 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 22.4 g |
| Sugars | 5.9 g |
| Added sugars | 5.5 g |
| Fiber | 0.8 g |
| Protein | 5.9 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 package (255 g)
Ingredients
- SAUCE: WATER
- PLUM SAUCE (SUGAR, WATER, PLUM PUREE, CORN STARCH, SALT, DISTILLED VINEGAR, GINGER, DRIED RED PEPPER, DRIED GARLIC)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- SESAME OIL
- SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT)
- GARLIC
- MODIFIED FOOD STARCH
- RICE WINE VINEGAR (RICE WINE VINEGAR, WATER)
- DRIED SOY SAUCE (SOYBEAN, WHEAT, SALT)
- SALT
- SPICES
- COOKED PASTA (WATER, SEMOLINA WHEAT FLOUR)
- RED BELL PEPPERS
Label text, as published
SAUCE: WATER, PLUM SAUCE (SUGAR, WATER, PLUM PUREE, CORN STARCH, SALT, DISTILLED VINEGAR, 2% OR LESS OF GINGER, DRIED RED PEPPER, DRIED GARLIC), SUGAR, SESAME OIL, SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT), GARLIC, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, RICE WINE VINEGAR (RICE WINE VINEGAR, WATER), DRIED SOY SAUCE (SOYBEAN, WHEAT, SALT), SALT, SPICES. COOKED PASTA (WATER, SEMOLINA WHEAT FLOUR) FULLY COOKED BREADED WHITE MEAT CHICKEN CHUNKS (WHITE MEAT CHICKEN, WATER, WHEAT FLOUR, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, RICE FLOUR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SALT, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, SPICE, CHICKEN FLAVOR [CHICKEN BROTH, FLAVOR, SALT], SODIUM PHOSPHATES, PALM OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, SUGAR, YEAST, PAPRIKA AND ANNATTO EXTRACTS [COLOR], WHEAT GLUTEN, LEAVENING [SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA], NATURAL FLAVORS) VEGETABLES: GREEN BEANS, RED BELL PEPPERS. TOASTED SESAME SEEDS
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sesame
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Lean Cuisine
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Signature Steak Portabella Lean Cuisine · 7.5 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
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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
-
“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
-
“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