Sliced bacon
Hormel Black Label Original Bacon
16 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 21
Hormel Black Label Original Bacon 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 bacon
-
Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon Never Any! Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 76 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Hickory Smoked Uncured Sunday Bacon Applegate Naturals · 14 g Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 61 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Cured Bacon Applegate · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 74 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon Greenfield Natural Meat Co. · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 74 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Thick Cut Bacon Oscar Mayer · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates 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 Bacon
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sodium nitrite minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 13.9 g / 100 g minus 4.5 points
- Salt 5.6 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 500 kcal / 100 g minus 1.5 points
- Protein 33.3 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 79 = 21
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 38.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 13.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 1.6 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 33.3 g |
| Salt | 5.6 g |
Serving: 2 Slices (19 g)
Ingredients
- CURED WITH WATER
- SALT
- SUGAR (high concern)
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- SODIUM ERYTHORBATE
- SODIUM NITRITE (high concern)
Label text, as published
CURED WITH WATER, SALT, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More sliced bacon on GoodSwap
-
Applewood Thick Cut Bacon Wright · 1.5 lb High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 31 out of 100 Poor -
Bacon Thick Cut Smithfield · 16 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 39 out of 100 Poor -
Thick Cut Bacon Hormel Black Label · 16 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitrates Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Hickory Thick Cut Bacon Real Wood Smoked Wright Brand · 24 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 39 out of 100 Poor -
Uncured Canadian Bacon Jones · 24 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsNo additives Score 55 out of 100 Okay -
Original uncured bacon Hormel · 120 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 54 out of 100 Okay
More from Hormel Black Label
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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
EFSA confirms safe levels for nitrites and nitrates added to food
“They concluded that when nitrites are used at approved levels, their contribution to overall exposure to nitrosamines is of low concern for health.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern
“Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern”
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
-
“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