Snacks
Blue Diamond Habanero BBQ Flavored Almonds
16 oz/1 lb/454 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 22
Blue Diamond Habanero BBQ Flavored Almonds scores 22 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 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 almonds
-
Whole Natural Almonds Blue Diamond · 28 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 78 points higher -
Lightly Salted Almonds Blue Diamond · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 91 out of 100 , 69 points higher -
Roasted Almonds with Sea Salt Kirkland Signature Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 98 out of 100 , 76 points higher -
Organic Almonds Kirkland Signature · 1.7 lb Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 78 points higher -
Smokehouse Blue Diamond Almonds · 445 g No added sugars · No sugar Score 68 out of 100 , 46 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Habanero BBQ Flavored Almonds
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Molasses minus 20 points
- Refiners syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 7.1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 3.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 607 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
- Fiber 10.7 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 21.4 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 78.5 = 21.5 → 22
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 607 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 53.6 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17.9 g |
| Sugars | 7.1 g |
| Added sugars | 3.6 g |
| Fiber | 10.7 g |
| Protein | 21.4 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 serving (28 g)
Ingredients
- ALMONDS
- VEGETABLE OIL (ALMOND, CANOLA, SAFFLOWER, SUNFLOWER)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- SALT
- TOMATO
- MOLASSES POWDER (CANE REFINERY SYRUP, MOLASSES) (high concern)
- VINEGAR POWDER
- MALTODEXTRIN
- VINEGAR SOLIDS
- ONION
- GARLIC
- NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR (CONTAINS SOYBEAN OIL)
- YEAST EXTRACT
- HABANERO CHILE PEPPER
- MUSTARD
- MALIC ACID
- SPICES
- EXTRACTIVE OF PAPRIKA
Label text, as published
ALMONDS, VEGETABLE OIL (ALMOND, CANOLA, SAFFLOWER AND/OR SUNFLOWER), SUGAR, SALT, TOMATO, MOLASSES POWDER (CANE REFINERY SYRUP, MOLASSES), VINEGAR POWDER, (MALTODEXTRIN, VINEGAR SOLIDS), ONION, GARLIC, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR (CONTAINS SOYBEAN OIL), YEAST EXTRACT, HABANERO CHILE PEPPER, MUSTARD, MALIC ACID, SPICES, EXTRACTIVE OF PAPRIKA.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Tree nuts, Mustard
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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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
-
“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
-
“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