Stacked extruded potato chips
Pringles Original
6.8 oz (194 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 55
Pringles Original scores 55 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7 points Saturated fat 8.9 g / 100 g: Very high in saturated fat. Strong
- minus 5 points Salt 1.3 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better potato chips
-
Sea Salt Kettle Cooked Potato Chips 365 Whole Foods Market Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 93 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
GV Original Potato Chips Great Value Cruchy Potato Chips · 1 oz (28 g) Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 89 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Classic Potato Chips Lay's Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 94 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Premium Potato Chips Litys Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Avocado oil kettle chips Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 100 out of 100 , 45 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Original
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Cottonseed oil minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 8.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 536 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 3.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 45 = 55
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 536 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 32.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 8.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 60.7 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 3.6 g |
| Protein | 3.6 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 16 crisps/unidades (1 oz / 28 g)
Ingredients
- DRIED POTATOES
- VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, COTTONSEED, CANOLA, HIGH OLEIC SOYBEAN, SUNFLOWER)
- DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN FLOUR
- CORNSTARCH
- RICE FLOUR
- MALTODEXTRIN
- MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES
- SALT
- WHEAT STARCH
Label text, as published
INGREDIENTS: DRIED POTATOES, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, COTTONSEED, CANOLA, HIGH OLEIC SOYBEAN, AND/OR SUNFLOWER), DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, RICE FLOUR, MALTODEXTRIN, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT, WHEAT STARCH.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Aluminium, Plastic, Composite material
Context only: no points in v1.
Sources
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“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
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“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
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“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
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Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
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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
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“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
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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
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“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
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Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
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“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org