GoodSwap Get notified
Sweet Earth Korean bbq-style chik’n
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Microwave meals

Sweet Earth Korean bbq-style chik’n

9 oz (255 g)

Bad out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • No synthetic dyes
  • Contains whole grains
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 19

Sweet Earth Korean bbq-style chik’n scores 19 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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

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

The Receipt

Korean bbq-style chik’n

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Brown sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Molasses
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavor enhancer, flavoring and industrial protein. [4]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 17 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [1]
  • Salt 0.5 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [5]
  • Energy 330 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
  • Fiber 5 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
subtotal−9
TOTAL 19Bad

100 − 81.5 = 18.5 → 19

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00016741807679 · 2024-03-19

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy330 kcal
Fat6 g
Saturated fat0.2 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates54 g
Sugars17 g
Added sugars5.1 g
Fiber5 g
Protein15 g
Salt0.5 g

Serving: 255.0g

Ingredients

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

COOKED BROWN RICE (WATER, BROWN RICE), PLANT BASED CHIK'N (WATER, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE1, CANOLA OIL2, VINEGAR, NUTRITIONAL YEAST (NUTRITIONAL YEAST, VITAMIN B12), SEASONING (SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, YEAST EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, ROASTED ONION POWDER, ONION POWDER, CANE SUGAR), SALT, SOY LECITHIN1, SOYBEAN OIL1), CARROTS, EDAMAME SOYBEANS1, SNAP PEAS, WATER, SPINACH, RICED CAULIFLOWER, GOCHUJANG HOT PEPPER PASTE (CHILI, CANE SUGAR, MISO [WATER, SOYBEANS1, CULTURED RICE, SEA SALT], SALT, SUNFLOWER OIL, VINEGAR, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA & RED PEPPER), BROWN SUGAR (CANE SUGAR, CANE MOLASSES), RICE VINEGAR, 2% OR LESS OF TOMATO PASTE, GARLIC PUREE, TAMARI SOY SAUCE1 (WATER, SOYBEANS1, SALT, ALCOHOL), CORNSTARCH1, SESAME OIL, BLACK SESAME SEEDS, TOASTED SESAME SEEDS. CONTAINS: SESAME, SOY.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Soy, Sesame

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest microwave meals in the US

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. 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

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. 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

  6. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  7. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  9. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  10. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org