Meat analogues
Nasoya Korean BBQ Plant Based Steak
7 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 25
Nasoya Korean BBQ Plant Based Steak scores 25 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Caramel: 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 tofu and tempeh
-
Hickory Smoked Turkey Style Tofu Riech & Tender smokehouse cured plant-based Tofurky · 156 g No added sugars · No sugar Score 64 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
organic TEMPEH THREE GRAIN Lightlife · 84 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 75 points higher -
Chickpea and sunflower seed tempeh San Diego Tempeh · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Whole Foods Organic Tempeh Whole Foods · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 75 points higher -
Organic Tempeh Lightlife Foods · 84 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 75 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Korean BBQ Plant Based Steak
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel minus 20 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 2.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
- Dextrin minus 0.5 points
- Guar gum minus 0.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 1.8 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 235 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 5.9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 16.5 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 75.5 = 24.5 → 25
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 235 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 11.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15.3 g |
| Sugars | 5.9 g |
| Added sugars | 5.9 g |
| Fiber | 5.9 g |
| Protein | 16.5 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 1 portion (85 g)
Ingredients
- HYDRATED TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (WATER, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, WHEAT GLUTEN, COCOA POWDER)
- SAUCE (SUGAR, WATER, SOY SAUCE, PEAR PUREE, ONION, GARLIC, APPLE PUREE, CARAMELIZED SUGAR SYRUP, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GINGER, GREEN ONION EXTRACT, DEXTRIN, BLACK PEPPER, GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM) (not recognized)
- SOYBEAN OIL
Label text, as published
HYDRATED TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (WATER, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, WHEAT GLUTEN, COCOA POWDER), SAUCE (SUGAR, WATER, SOY SAUCE [WATER, DEFATTED SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT], PEAR PUREE, ONION, GARLIC, APPLE PUREE, CARAMELIZED SUGAR SYRUP [SUGAR, WATER], MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GINGER, GREEN ONION EXTRACT [WATER, GREEN ONION, MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, PECTINASE], DEXTRIN, BLACK PEPPER, GUAR GUM, XANTHAN GUM), SOYBEAN OIL.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More meat analogues on GoodSwap
-
Black Bean Veggie Burger Actual Veggies · 1 unit Ultra-processedNo additivesContains whole grains Score 83 out of 100 Excellent -
Ground "Beef" Abbot's · 10 oz High in saltNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Impossible Chicken Patties Impossible Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Mushroom Quinoa Veggie Burger Actual Veggies · 85 g Ultra-processedNo additivesSeed-oil freeContains whole grains Score 81 out of 100 Excellent -
Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Filets Gardein · 15 oz Not permitted in some countriesUltra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 21 out of 100 Poor -
Buffalo Cnk'n Nuggets Morningstar Farms · 10.5 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 23 out of 100 Poor
More from Nasoya
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
-
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
-
“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
-
“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