Salty snacks
Sun Chips minis Garden Salsa Flavored Whole Grain Snacks
14.1 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 20
Sun Chips minis Garden Salsa Flavored Whole Grain Snacks scores 20 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 Dextrose: 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 tortilla chips
-
Sweet Potato Whole Grain Corn Tortilla Chips Way Better · 5.5 oz/156 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Multi Grain Tortilla Chips Simply Life Not ultra-processed · No dextrose Score 63 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Multi Grain Tortilla Chips Simply Nature · 8.25 oz Not ultra-processed · No dextrose Score 72 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Grain Free Tortilla Chips Sprouts Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Grain Free Tortilla Chips Siete · 5 oz (142 g) Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 59 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Garden Salsa Flavored Whole Grain Snacks
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
- Canola oil minus 1.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 0.5 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
- Corn oil minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 7.1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 494 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 7.1 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 80 = 20
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 494 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 24.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 63.5 g |
| Sugars | 7.1 g |
| Added sugars | 7.1 g |
| Fiber | 7.1 g |
| Protein | 7.1 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 1 bag (14.175 g)
Ingredients
- WHOLE CORN
- VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER, CANOLA OIL)
- WHOLE WHEAT
- BROWN RICE FLOUR
- WHOLE OAT FLOUR
- SUGAR (high concern)
- TOMATO POWDER
- SALT
- CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES)
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- BUTTERMILK
- ONION POWDER
- WHEY
- YEAST EXTRACT
- MALTODEXTRIN (MADE FROM CORN)
- ROMANO CHEESE (PART-SKIM COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES)
- WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- CORN OIL
- SPICES INCLUDING JALAPEÑO PEPPER)
- CITRIC ACID
- PAPRIKA EXTRACTS
- LACTIC ACID
Label text, as published
WHOLE CORN, VEGETABLE OIL (SUNFLOWER AND/OR CANOLA OIL), WHOLE WHEAT, BROWN RICE FLOUR, WHOLE OAT FLOUR, SUGAR, TOMATO POWDER, SALT, CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), DEXTROSE, BUTTERMILK, ONION POWDER, WHEY, YEAST EXTRACT, MALTODEXTRIN (MADE FROM CORN), ROMANO CHEESE (PART-SKIM COW'S MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CORN OIL, SPICES INCLUDING JALAPEÑO PEPPER), CITRIC ACID, PAPRIKA EXTRACTS, AND LACTIC ACID. CONTAINS MILK AND WHEAT INGREDIENTS. FRITO-LAY, INC.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More salty snacks on GoodSwap
-
Lightly Salted Pistachios Wonderful · 30 g High in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Totopos El Milagro · 453 g Contains seed oils Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Honey and vanilla, flavored nuts, and fruit clusters Member's Mark · 24 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 19 out of 100 Bad -
Cheetos Flamin' Hot Lime Crunchy Cheetos · 1 oz Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in salt Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Honey Nut Snack Bites Dave's Killer Bread · 204 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsCertified organic Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Sweet potato chips Simple Truth · 6 oz Contains seed oilsNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good
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
-
“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
-
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
-
“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