Frozen meats
Morningstar Farms Sauced Sweet BBQ Riblets
10 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 24
Morningstar Farms Sauced Sweet BBQ Riblets scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Molasses: 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
-
Sweet Potato Veggie Burger | The Actual Orange Burger Actual Veggies Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 99 out of 100 , 75 points higher -
Alaska Salmon Burgers Trident Seafoods No added sugars · No brown sugar Score 75 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Caramelized Onion & Aged White Cheddar Charbroiled Chicken Burgers Amylu · 2 lb Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 75 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Ground "Beef" Abbot's · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Black Bean Veggie Burger Actual Veggies · 1 unit No added sugars · No seed oils Score 83 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
Sauced Sweet BBQ Riblets
Ingredients
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Molasses minus 20 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 2.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Corn oil minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Methylcellulose minus 0.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 0.5 points
- Xanthan gum 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 11.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 5.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 14.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 76.5 = 23.5 → 24
Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 148 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17.6 g |
| Sugars | 11.3 g |
| Added sugars | 9.9 g |
| Fiber | 5.6 g |
| Protein | 14.8 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 riblet with sauce (142 g)
Ingredients
- Water
- soy protein concentrate
- brown sugar (high concern)
- tomato paste (tomatoes)
- wheat gluten
- molasses (high concern)
- corn oil
- soy protein isolate
- natural flavors
- distilled vinegar
- salt
- wheat starch
- methylcellulose
- fruit juice for color
- onion powder
- yeast extract
- xanthan gum
- spice
- garlic powder
Label text, as published
Water, soy protein concentrate, brown sugar, tomato paste (tomatoes), wheat gluten, molasses, corn oil, soy protein isolate. Contains 2% or less of natural flavors, distilled vinegar, salt, wheat starch, methylcellulose, fruit juice for color, onion powder, yeast extract, xanthan gum, spice, garlic powder.
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
-
“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
-
“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