Fruits
Del Monte Red Grapefruit
184 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains sugar alcohols
Why it scores 55
Del Monte Red Grapefruit scores 55 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Sodium benzoate: Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Sucralose: In a 2022 randomized study, sucralose and saccharin altered the gut microbiome and impaired glucose responses in some people; a 2023 lab study raised questions about its by-product sucralose-6-acetate. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
Red Grapefruit
Ingredients
- Sodium benzoate minus 7.5 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 7.5 points
- Sorbitol minus 1.5 points
- Potassium sorbate minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
100 − 45 = 55
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 33 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8.2 g |
| Sugars | 3.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.1 g |
| Protein | 0.5 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Serving: 1 container (184 g)
Ingredients
- RED GRAPEFRUIT
- WATER
- SORBITOL
- PRESERVATIVES (ASCORBIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE) (not recognized)
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- CITRIC ACID
- RED FRUIT EXTRACT (COLOR)
- ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (moderate concern)
Label text, as published
RED GRAPEFRUIT, WATER, SORBITOL, PRESERVATIVES (ASCORBIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE), SUCRALOSE, CITRIC ACID, RED FRUIT EXTRACT (COLOR), ACESULFAME POTASSIUM
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of benzyl alcohol (E 1519) as food additive (records the 2016 benzoate re-evaluation)
“derived a group ADI of 5 mg/kg bw per day (expressed as benzoic acid) in accordance with the ADI previously derived by SCF and JECFA”
doi.org
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
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
-
Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study
“In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)
“The acceptable daily intake (ADI) considered safe for all population groups was set at 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)
“‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 182.3640 Potassium sorbate
ecfr.gov
-
“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