Cereals and their products
Knorr Taco Rice
62 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 43
Knorr Taco Rice scores 43 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 7 points Salt 2.2 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
The Receipt
Taco Rice
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Hydrolyzed vegetable protein minus 2.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Disodium guanylate minus 1.5 points
- Disodium inosinate minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 2.2 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 361 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 4.9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 9.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 57.5 = 42.5 → 43
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). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 361 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 78.7 g |
| Sugars | 3.3 g |
| Added sugars | 0.3 g |
| Fiber | 4.9 g |
| Protein | 9.8 g |
| Salt | 2.2 g |
Serving: 1 portion (61 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED PARBOILED LONG GRAIN RICE (RICE, NIACIN, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), FOLIC ACID)
- ENRICHED VERMICELLI (WHEAT AND DURUM FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE (IRON), THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID)
- MALTODEXTRIN (CORN, POTATO)
- SALT
- TOMATO POWDER
- HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
- RED BELL PEPPER
- SUGAR (high concern)
- SPICES
- CHILI PEPPER
- CORN GERM
- YEAST EXTRACT
- WHEY
- CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES)
- CORN FLOUR (WITH TRACES OF LIME)
- DISODIUM GUANYLATE
- DISODIUM INOSINATE
- NATURAL FLAVOR (MILK)
- CARAMEL AND ANNATTO EXTRACT (FOR COLOR)
- GARLIC POWDER
- BUTTER (CREAM, SALT)
Label text, as published
ENRICHED PARBOILED LONG GRAIN RICE [RICE, NIACIN, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), FOLIC ACID], ENRICHED VERMICELLI [WHEAT AND DURUM FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE (IRON), THIAMINE MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], MALTODEXTRIN (CORN, POTATO), SALT, TOMATO POWDER, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, RED BELL PEPPER*, SUGAR, SPICES, CHILI PEPPER*, CORN GERM, YEAST EXTRACT, WHEY, CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), CORN FLOUR (WITH TRACES OF LIME), DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, NATURAL FLAVOR (MILK), CARAMEL AND ANNATTO EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), GARLIC POWDER, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- 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
-
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
-
“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