Frozen plant-based foods mixes
Morningstar Farms Original Chik'n Patties
10 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 21
Morningstar Farms Original Chik'n Patties scores 21 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 burgers and patties
-
Spicy Chik'n Burgers Sprouts No added sugars · No sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Super Greens Veggie Burger Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 90 out of 100 , 69 points higher -
Veggie Burger 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 87 out of 100 , 66 points higher -
Veggie Burgers Trader Joe's · 340 g Not ultra-processed · No dextrose Score 65 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Organic Chipotle Black Bean Burger Don Lee Farms Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 79 out of 100 , 58 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Original Chik'n Patties
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Malt syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.4 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 225 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 12.7 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 79 = 21
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 225 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 9.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 22.5 g |
| Sugars | 2.8 g |
| Added sugars | 1.4 g |
| Fiber | 2.8 g |
| Protein | 12.7 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 1 patty (71 g)
Ingredients
- water
- wheat flour
- vegetable oil (corn, canola, sunflower oil)
- soy flour
- soy protein isolate
- wheat starch
- yellow corn flour
- wheat gluten
- methylcellulose
- yeast extract
- sugar (high concern)
- potato starch
- cornstarch
- dextrose (high concern)
- salt
- spices
- natural flavors
- onion powder
- yeast
- paprika (color)
- leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate) (not recognized)
- potassium chloride
- glutamic acid
- garlic powder
- citric acid
- xanthan gum
- barley malt extract (high concern)
Label text, as published
water, wheat flour, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower oil), soy flour, soy protein isolate, contains 2% or less of wheat starch, yellow corn flour, wheat gluten, methylcellulose, yeast extract, sugar, potato starch, cornstarch, dextrose, salt, spices, natural flavors, onion powder, yeast, paprika (color), leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate), potassium chloride, glutamic acid, garlic powder, citric acid, xanthan gum, barley malt extract,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
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
-
“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