Food
Farm Rich Breaded Mozzarella Sticks
22 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 19
Farm Rich Breaded Mozzarella Sticks scores 19 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
- 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 frozen snacks and appetizers
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Mozzarella Sticks Tesco Less salt · No added sugars Score 72 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Crispy Breaded Mozzarella Sticks Tuscanini · 200 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Bavarian Soft Pretzel Sticks Superpretzel · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Mozzarella Sticks Feel Good Foods · 224 g Less salt · No artificial flavors Score 50 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
Bavarian Style Soft Pretzel Sticks Kroger · 2 × 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Breaded Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Soybean oil minus 2.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 1.5 points
- Methylcellulose minus 1.5 points
- Artificial flavors minus 0.5 points
- Guar gum 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
- Saturated fat 5.8 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 1.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 314 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 12.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 81.5 = 18.5 → 19
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [17]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 314 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 17.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26.7 g |
| Sugars | 2.3 g |
| Added sugars | 0.3 g |
| Fiber | 1.2 g |
| Protein | 12.8 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 3 sticks (86 g)
Ingredients
- low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
- pasteurized part skim milk
- cheese cultures
- salt
- enzyme
- enriched wheat flour
- niacin
- reduced iron
- thiamine mononitrate
- riboflavin
- folic acid
- whey
- soybean oil
- water
- yellow corn flour
- modified cornstarch
- salt
- leavening
- sodium acid pyrophosphate
- baking soda
- dehydrated onions
- dehydrated garlic
- sugar (high concern)
- spices
- methylcellulose
- caramel color (high concern)
- dried yeast
- artificial flavors
- paprika extract
- color (not recognized)
- guar gum
Label text, as published
low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese, pasteurized part skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzyme, enriched wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, whey, soybean oil, water, yellow corn flour, modified cornstarch, salt, leavening, sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, dehydrated onions, dehydrated garlic, sugar, spices, methylcellulose, caramel color, dried yeast, artificial flavors, paprika extract, color, guar gum
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from Farm Rich
Sources
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
“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
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
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