Pasta dishes
Birds Eye Voila! Alfredo Chicken
21 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 26
Birds Eye Voila! Alfredo Chicken scores 26 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
- 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 frozen meals
-
Grilled Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Whole Foods Market · 1 container, 12 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 69 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Chicken & Spinach Garlic Alfredo Bowl Vital Pursuit · 290 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 88 out of 100 , 62 points higher -
Southwestern Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl Whole & Simple · 298 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 86 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Parmesan Basil Chicken Kevin's Natural Foods · 9 oz No added sugars · No seed oils Score 74 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice Trader Joe's · 12.5 oz Not ultra-processed · No caramel color Score 68 out of 100 , 42 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Birds Eye Voila! Alfredo Chicken
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 1.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.4 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 74 = 26
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 102 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Sugars | 1.9 g |
| Added sugars | 0.2 g |
| Fiber | 1.4 g |
| Protein | 6 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 1/6 cups (216 g)
Ingredients
- Vegetables (Carrots, Broccoli, Peas)
- Sauce (Water, Parmesan Cheese, Cream, Nonfat Milk, Modified Corn Starch, Soybean Oil, Butter, Salt, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper) (not recognized)
- Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Enriched Wheat Flour)
- Cooked White Meat Chicken (Chicken Breast With Rib Meat, Water, Isolated Soy Protein, Salt, Seasoning, Sodium Phosphates, Natural Flavor. Coated With Corn Flour, Sugar, Salt, Spices, Garlic Powder, Paprika, Caramel Color, Extractives Of Paprika)
Label text, as published
Vegetables (Carrots, Broccoli, Peas), Sauce (Water, Parmesan Cheese [Pasteurized Part Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Cream, Nonfat Milk, Modified Corn Starch, Soybean Oil, Butter [Cream, Salt], Salt, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper), Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Enriched Wheat Flour [Durum Wheat Semolina, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate {Iron}, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]), Cooked White Meat Chicken (Chicken Breast With Rib Meat, Water, Isolated Soy Protein, Salt, Seasoning [Sugar, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder], Sodium Phosphates, Natural Flavor. Coated With Corn Flour, Sugar, Salt, Spices, Garlic Powder, Paprika, Caramel Color, Extractives Of Paprika). CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK, SOY.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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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
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
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Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
“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
-
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
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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
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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
-
“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
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“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