Cereals and their products
Pasta Roni Fettuccine Alfredo
4.7 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 31
Pasta Roni Fettuccine Alfredo scores 31 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup solids: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 9 points Salt 2.7 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better rice and pasta side dishes
-
COUSCOUS MIX Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Near East · 5.8 oz No added sugars · No palm oil Score 71 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Rice Pilaf Mix Original Near East · 6.09 No added sugars · No palm oil Score 71 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Jambalaya reduced sodium rice dinner mix Zatarain's · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Dirty rice mix Zatarain's · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Dirty Rice Mix Earthly Grains · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 76 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
- Corn syrup solids minus 20 points
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Caseinate minus 1.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG) minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 0.5 points
- Disodium inosinate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.4 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 3.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 2.7 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 393 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 12.5 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 69.5 = 30.5 → 31
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup solids, 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 | 393 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 7.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67 g |
| Sugars | 5.4 g |
| Added sugars | 1.8 g |
| Fiber | 1.8 g |
| Protein | 12.5 g |
| Salt | 2.7 g |
Serving: 1 portion (56.699 g)
Recipe changed
- Synthetic dyes removed
Compared with an older list (Open Food Facts). The current list is from December 2022.
Ingredients
- WHEAT FLOUR
- PALM OIL
- WHEY
- SALT
- CORN SYRUP SOLIDS (high concern)
- PARMESAN CHEESE (MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES)
- CHEDDAR AND ROMANO CHEESES (MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES)
- NATURAL FLAVOR (CONTAINS SOY)
- SODIUM CASEINATE
- AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT
- NONFAT DRY MILK
- MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE
- MODIFIED FOOD STARCH
- LACTIC ACID
- BUTTER (CREAM, SALT)
- BUTTERMILK POWDER
- BLACK PEPPER EXTRACT
- NIACIN
- DISODIUM INOSINATE
- FERROUS SULFATE
- THIAMINE MONONITRATE
- RIBOFLAVIN
- FOLIC ACID
Label text, as published
WHEAT FLOUR, PALM OIL, WHEY, SALT, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, PARMESAN CHEESE (MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), CHEDDAR AND ROMANO CHEESES (MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), NATURAL FLAVOR (CONTAINS SOY), SODIUM CASEINATE, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, NONFAT DRY MILK, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, LACTIC ACID, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), BUTTERMILK POWDER, BLACK PEPPER EXTRACT, NIACIN, DISODIUM INOSINATE, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not 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
-
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
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
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
-
Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
“FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).”
fda.gov
-
EFSA reviews safety of glutamates added to food
“EFSA re-assessed the safety of glutamates used as food additives and derived a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 30 mg/kg body weight per day for all six of these additives.”
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