Meat analogues
Morningstar Farms Veggie meal starters veggie crumbles
13.5 oz/383 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 49
Morningstar Farms Veggie meal starters veggie crumbles scores 49 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 5 points Salt 1.8 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better ground meat
-
Ground Beef Simply Nature · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ground Turkey Festive · 16 oz/1 lb Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ground Bison Great Range · 20 oz (1.25 lb) 567 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ground Bison Great Range Premium Bison · 113 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ground Bison Marketside · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Veggie meal starters veggie crumbles
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn oil minus 2.5 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Fava bean protein minus 1.5 points
- Pea protein minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.7 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.8 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 186 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 8.5 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 15.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 51.5 = 48.5 → 49
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). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 186 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 13.6 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10.2 g |
| Sugars | 1.7 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 8.5 g |
| Protein | 15.3 g |
| Salt | 1.8 g |
Serving: 0.5 cup (59 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- SOY FLOUR
- CORN OIL
- ONIONS
- PAPRIKA
- GARLIC (GARLIC, WATER)
- SALT
- SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE
- SPICES
- CITRIC ACID
- COOKED ONION AND CARROT JUICE CONCENTRATE
- GARLIC POWDER
- VINEGAR SOLIDS
- ONION POWDER
- SUGAR (high concern)
- PAPRIKA EXTRACT COLOR
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- FABA BEAN PROTEIN
- PEA PROTEIN
Label text, as published
WATER, SOY FLOUR, CORN OIL, ONIONS, PAPRIKA. CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF GARLIC (GARLIC, WATER), SALT, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SPICES, CITRIC ACID, COOKED ONION AND CARROT JUICE CONCENTRATE, GARLIC POWDER, VINEGAR SOLIDS, ONION POWDER, SUGAR, PAPRIKA EXTRACT COLOR, NATURAL FLAVOR, FABA BEAN PROTEIN, PEA PROTEIN.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy
- 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 -
Buffalo Cnk'n Nuggets Morningstar Farms · 10.5 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 23 out of 100 Poor -
Crispy Jack Tenders Jack & Annie's · 9 oz Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 25 out of 100 Poor -
Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Tenders Gardein · 15 oz Not permitted in some countriesUltra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugars Score 21 out of 100 Poor
More from Morningstar Farms
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
-
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