Desserts
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding
2
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 43
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding scores 43 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 Carrageenan: In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K): In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, acesulfame-K intake was associated with higher cancer risk; cause and effect is not established. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
Chocolate Pudding
Ingredients
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 7.5 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Maltitol minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
- Palm oil minus 1.5 points
- Sodium stearoyl lactylate minus 0.5 points
- Artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 2.2 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.3 g / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 57.5 = 42.5 → 43
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 76 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.1 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g |
| Salt | 0.3 g |
Serving: 1 pudding cup (92 g) (92 g)
Ingredients
- Water
- Maltitol
- Nonfat Milk
- Modified Corn Starch
- Cocoa (Processed with Alkali)
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
- Carrageenan (moderate concern)
- Acesulfame Potassium (moderate concern)
- Sucralose (moderate concern)
- Artificial Flavors
Label text, as published
Water, Maltitol, Nonfat Milk*, Modified Corn Starch, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Palm Oil, Less than 2% of: Salt, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Carrageenan, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Artificial Flavors. *Adds a trivial amount of sugar. CONTAINS: MILK.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“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
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org