Chicken nuggets
Tyson White Meat Chicken Nuggets
5 lb/80 oz/2.26 kg
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 27
Tyson White Meat Chicken Nuggets scores 27 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Dextrose: 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 chicken nuggets and tenders
-
White meat chicken nuggets Kidfresh · 7.9 oz Not ultra-processed · No brown sugar Score 76 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Grilled Chicken Strips Seasoned White Chicken Meat Trader Joe's · 16 oz No seed oils · No brown sugar Score 66 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Crispy Chicken Strips Breast Fritters with Rib Meat Kirkwood · 25 oz Not ultra-processed · No dextrose Score 73 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Crispy Chicken Strips Breaded White Meat Chicken Strips Perdue · 26 oz No seed oils · No brown sugar Score 57 out of 100 , 30 points higher -
Grilled Strips Premium Chicken Breast Strips With Rib Meat Foster Farms · 20 oz No added sugars · No seed oils Score 77 out of 100 , 50 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
White Meat Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) 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
- Saturated fat 2.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 258 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 15.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 73.5 = 26.5 → 27
Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 258 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.2 g |
| Protein | 15.1 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 4 pieces (86 g)
Ingredients
- white meat chicken
- wheat flour
- water
- brown sugar (high concern)
- corn starch
- dextrose (high concern)
- dried garlic
- dried onion
- dried yeast
- extractives of paprika
- natural flavor
- salt
- soybean oil
- spices
- wheat starch
- white whole wheat flour
- yellow corn flour
- breading set in vegetable oil
Label text, as published
white meat chicken, wheat flour, water, contains 2% or less of the following: brown sugar, corn starch, dextrose, dried garlic, dried onion, dried yeast, extractives of paprika, natural flavor, salt, soybean oil, spices, wheat starch, white whole wheat flour, yellow corn flour, breading set in vegetable oil,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More chicken nuggets on GoodSwap
-
Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks Kirkland · 64 oz High in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 63 out of 100 Good -
Chicken Nuggets Impossible · 13.5 oz (383 g) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks Just Bare · 64 oz (4 lb) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 53 out of 100 Okay -
Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets Great Value · 32 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 44 out of 100 Okay -
Lightly Coated Chicken Breast Bites Simple Truth Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets Perdue · 29 oz/1.81 lb Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains palm oil Score 50 out of 100 Okay
More from Tyson
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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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
-
“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
-
“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
-
“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