Cookies
Girl Scouts Thin Mints
9 oz
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 0
Girl Scouts Thin Mints scores 0 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 25 points Partially hydrogenated oil: Industrial trans fat raises LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk. Regulatory
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better cookies
-
Sweet Thins Mint Chocolate Sweet thins mint chocolate · 4.25 oz No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 51 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Sweet Thins Chocolate Brownie Simple Mills · 120 g No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 49 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Thin & Crispy Butter Pecan cookies Pepperidge Farm · 5.9 oz No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 48 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins Trader Joe's · 9 oz No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 59 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Cranberry almond thin cookies THINaddictives No banned ingredients · Less saturated fat Score 41 out of 100 , 41 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Thin Mints
Ingredients
- Partially hydrogenated oil minus 25 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 33.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 15.2 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 485 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 103 = 0
Can’t score above 25. Contains partially hydrogenated oil, whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [2][15]
Can’t score above 49. Contains partially hydrogenated oil, an ingredient of very high concern. [1][2][3][4]
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][16]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [17]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 485 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 21.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 15.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69.7 g |
| Sugars | 33.3 g |
| Added sugars | 33.3 g |
| Fiber | 2.3 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 4 cookies (33 g)
Ingredients
- enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- sugar (high concern)
- vegetable shortening (palm, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oils)
- cocoa (processed with alkali)
- caramel color (high concern)
- high fructose corn syrup (high concern)
- salt
- baking soda
- soy lecithin
- natural and artificial flavor
- peppermint oil
Label text, as published
enriched flour ( wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), sugar, vegetable shortening (palm and/or partially hydrogenated palm kernel oils), cocoa (processed with alkali), caramel color, contains less than 2% of: high fructose corn syrup, salt, baking soda, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavor, peppermint oil,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cookies on GoodSwap
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Fig Bar Blueberry Nature's Bakery · 2 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effectsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
belVita Crunchy Blueberry Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Club Crackers Snack Stacks Club · 14 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Organic Honey Grahams Annie's · 14.4 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 26 out of 100 Poor -
Honey Graham Crackers Great Value · 14.4 oz/408 g Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 16 out of 100 Bad
More from Girl Scouts
Sources
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“In 2015, the FDA took the significant step of determining that PHOs, then the major source of artificial trans fat in the food supply, are no longer “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS.”
fda.gov
-
Revocation of Uses of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods (88 FR 53764)
“in light of our determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS).”
federalregister.gov
-
“Maximum 2 grams per 100 grams of fat in food intended for the final consumer and food intended for supply to retail”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“WHO’s recommendation for adults is to limit consumption of trans fat to less than 1% of total energy intake, which is less than 2.2 g per day for a 2000-calorie diet.”
who.int
-
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
-
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
-
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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Notice of Modification: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods
“On September 17, 2018, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) were banned by adding them to Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and other Adulterating Substances in Foods.”
canada.ca
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21 CFR 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup
“a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”
ecfr.gov
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
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Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu