Cooked chicken
Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets
88 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No additives
Why it scores 55
Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets scores 55 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 3 points Salt 1 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better chicken nuggets and tenders
-
Organic Chicken Wing Sections Trader Joe's · 32 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Chicken Wings First & Second Sections Kirkland Signature Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 93 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken Drumsticks Just Bare · 112 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Organic Grilled Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat Whole Foods Market · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Tenderloins Just Bare · 112 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.8 g / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 190 kcal / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Protein 13.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 45 = 55
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 190 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16.7 g |
| Sugars | 1.2 g |
| Added sugars | 1.2 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 13.1 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 6 nuggets (84 g)
Ingredients
- CHICKEN
- WATER
- CORN STARCH
- SALT
- NATURAL FLAVOR (OREGANO)
- BREADED WITH: WHEAT FLOUR
- SUGAR (high concern)
- YEAST
- EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL
- SALT
- BATTERED WITH WATER
- WHEAT FLOUR
- CORN STARCH
- YELLOW CORN FLOUR
- SALT
- BREA (not recognized)
Label text, as published
CHICKEN**, WATER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF THE FOLLOWING: CORN STARCH, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR (OREGANO), BREADED WITH: WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, YEAST, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, SALT, BATTERED WITH WATER, WHEAT FLOUR, CORN STARCH, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, SALT, BREA
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cooked chicken on GoodSwap
-
Lightly Breaded Chicken Strips Real Good Foods Inc. · 48 oz Ultra-processedContains seed oilsNo additives Score 75 out of 100 Good -
Chicken Nugget Realgood Foods Co. · 567 g Ultra-processedContains seed oilsNo additives Score 75 out of 100 Good -
Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Bites Just Bare Contains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 64 out of 100 Good -
Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets Kirkland Signature · 48 oz High in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 72 out of 100 Good -
Chicken Tenders Perdue · 29 oz/1.81 lb Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 29 out of 100 Poor -
Seasoned rotisserie chicken Kirkland · 3 lb Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 26 out of 100 Poor
More from Applegate Naturals
-
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Applegate Naturals · 7 oz Score 93 out of 100 Excellent -
Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog Applegate Naturals · 10 oz Score 74 out of 100 Good -
Black Forest Uncured Ham Applegate Naturals · 56 g Score 69 out of 100 Good -
Chicken & Maple Breakfast Sausage Patties Applegate Naturals · 16 oz Score 42 out of 100 Okay
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 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