Shortbread
Lorna Doone Shortbread cookies
1.5 oz (42 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 8
Lorna Doone Shortbread cookies scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points High fructose corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- 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 cookies
-
Mexican Shortbread Siete Grain Free Cookies · 127.6 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 48 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
All-Butter Shortbread Fingers Walkers · 150 g 5.3 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 49 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Shortbread mini shortbread fingers shortbread cookies Walkers · 125 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 51 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Meyer lemon shortbread Rustic Bakery · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 55 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Vanilla shortbread Rustic Bakery · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 55 out of 100 , 47 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Shortbread cookies
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- High fructose corn syrup minus 20 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Palm oil minus 1.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 1.5 points
- Artificial flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 18.6 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 5.8 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 488 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 92 = 8
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [15]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 488 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 22.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.8 g |
| Trans fat | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67.4 g |
| Sugars | 18.6 g |
| Added sugars | 18.6 g |
| Fiber | 2.3 g |
| Protein | 4.7 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 1 Package (43 g).
Recipe changed
- Partially hydrogenated oils removed
Compared with an older list (Open Food Facts). The current list is from March 2018.
Ingredients
- UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- CANOLA OIL
- PALM OIL
- CORN FLOUR
- SALT
- HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- BAKING SODA
- SOY LECITHIN
- CORNSTARCH
- ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR
Label text, as published
INGREDIENTS: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, PALM OIL, CORN FLOUR, SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, CORNSTARCH, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
More shortbread on GoodSwap
-
Shortbread Thistle Rounds Walkers · 150 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Ube Tea Cookies Purple Yam Shortbread Cookies Trader Joe's · 10 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
Shortbread Festive Shapes Walkers · 175 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 51 out of 100 Okay -
Shortbread Fingers Walkers · 40 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 49 out of 100 Okay
More from Lorna Doone
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
-
21 CFR 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup
“a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”
ecfr.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
-
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
-
“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