Vegetarian sausages
Lightlife Smart Dogs Plant-Based Hot Dogs
12 oz (340 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 24
Lightlife Smart Dogs Plant-Based Hot Dogs scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better hot dogs
-
The Great Organic Uncured Turkey Hot Dog Applegate Organics · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 76 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Natural uncured turkey hot dog, uncured turkey Applegate · 10 oz/283 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog Applegate Naturals · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 74 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Uncured Beef Hot Dog Applegate Organics · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
The great organic uncured beef hot dog Applegate · 400 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 55 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Smart Dogs Plant-Based Hot Dogs
Ingredients
- Brown sugar minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Methylcellulose minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 0.5 points
- Guar gum minus 0.5 points
- Canola oil minus 0.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 2 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Protein 18.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 76.5 = 23.5 → 24
Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 140 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.7 g |
| Sugars | 2.3 g |
| Added sugars | 2.3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 18.6 g |
| Salt | 2 g |
Serving: 1 link (43 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE
- SOYBEAN OIL
- TAPIOCA STARCH
- METHYLCELLULOSE (FROM PLANT FIBER)
- BROWN SUGAR (high concern)
- SALT
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR
- XANTHAN GUM
- YEAST EXTRACT
- SMOKED SUGAR (high concern)
- GUAR GUM
- RED RICE FLOUR (COLOR)
- OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR)
- CANOLA OIL
- WHEAT GLUTEN
Label text, as published
WATER, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: TAPIOCA STARCH, METHYLCELLULOSE (FROM PLANT FIBER), BROWN SUGAR, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR, XANTHAN GUM, YEAST EXTRACT, SMOKED SUGAR, GUAR GUM, RED RICE FLOUR (COLOR), OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR), CANOLA OIL, WHEAT GLUTEN. CONTAINS: SOY, WHEAT.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More vegetarian sausages on GoodSwap
-
Italian Garlic & Fennel Plant-Based Sausages Field Roast · 13 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Breakfast Sausage Plant-Based Patties Original Beyond · 7.4 oz/210 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 61 out of 100 Good -
Smoked Apple & Sage Plant-Based Sausages Field Roast · 13 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 46 out of 100 Okay -
Beyond Sausage Plant-Based Links Brat Original Beyond Meat · 4pcs Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatSeed-oil freeNo synthetic dyes Score 56 out of 100 Okay -
Plant-Based Sausage Italian Tofurky · 13 oz Ultra-processedContains seed oils Score 80 out of 100 Excellent -
Spicy Chipotle Plant-Based Sausages Field Roast · 4 Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 28 out of 100 Poor
More from Lightlife
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
-
“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
-
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