Food
Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 54
Smartfood White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn scores 54 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 points Saturated fat 8.5 g / 100 g: Very high in saturated fat. Strong
- minus 7 points Salt 2.1 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better popcorn
-
Popcorn White Kroger Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
White Popcorn Bob's Red Mill · 30 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Our Family Popcorn white Our Family · 64 oz/4 lb/1814 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
White Popcorn Snappy Popcorn Co. Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Sea Salt Popcorn Simply Nature · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 99 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
White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 8.5 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 2.1 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 565 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 5.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 11.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 46 = 54
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 565 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 33.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 8.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50.8 g |
| Sugars | 5.6 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 5.6 g |
| Protein | 11.3 g |
| Salt | 2.1 g |
Ingredients
- popcorn
- vegetable oil (corn, canola, sunflower oil)
- natural flavor
- whey
- maltodextrin (made from corn)
- buttermilk
- cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
- salt
Label text, as published
popcorn, vegetable oil (corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil), natural flavor, whey, maltodextrin (made from corn), buttermilk, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), and salt. contains milk ingredients manufactured for: smartfoods, inc., plano, tx 75024-4099 ⓒ2021 smartfoods, inc.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from Smartfood
Sources
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“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
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“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
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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
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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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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
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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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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“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