Cookies
Nilla mini Nilla Wafers
11 oz
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 4
Nilla mini Nilla Wafers scores 4 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 25 points Partially hydrogenated oil: Industrial trans fat raises LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk. Regulatory
- 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 cookies
-
Coconut Melts Mango Ba-nilla Once Upon A Farm · 1.0 oz No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 79 out of 100 , 75 points higher -
Melting wafers Bake Believe · 9.0 oz (255 g) No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 41 out of 100 , 37 points higher -
Obleas Wafer with Goat's Milk Candy, Goat's Milk Candy Las Sevillanas · 250 No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 35 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
Obleas Arcoiris, Wheat Flour Wafers Big Tortilla Fabrica De Dulces La Providencia S.A. · 6.7 oz/190 g No banned ingredients · Less sugar Score 22 out of 100 , 18 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
mini Nilla Wafers
Ingredients
- Partially hydrogenated oil minus 25 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- High fructose corn syrup minus 5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 36.7 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 467 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 96.5 = 3.5 → 4
Can’t score above 25. Contains partially hydrogenated oil, whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [2][12]
Can’t score above 49. Contains partially hydrogenated oil, an ingredient of very high concern. [1][2][3][4]
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [5][6][7][8]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [13]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 467 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 20 g |
| Saturated fat | 5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 70 g |
| Sugars | 36.7 g |
| Added sugars | 33.3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 3.3 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 20 wafers (30 g)
Ingredients
- unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate vitamin b1, riboflavin vitamin b2, folic acid)
- sugar (high concern)
- vegetable oil (soybean, canola, palm, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil)
- high fructose corn syrup (high concern)
- whey (from milk)
- eggs
- salt
- leavening (baking soda, calcium phosphate) (not recognized)
- emulsifiers (mono - and diglycerides, soy lecithin) (not recognized)
- artificial flavor
- natural flavor
Label text, as published
unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate vitamin b1, riboflavin vitamin b2, folic acid), sugar, vegetable oil (soybean and/or canola and/or palm and/or partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil), high fructose corn syrup, whey (from milk), eggs, salt, leavening (baking soda, calcium phosphate), emulsifiers (mono - and diglycerides, soy lecithin), artificial flavor, natural flavor,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cookies on GoodSwap
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Fig Bar Blueberry Nature's Bakery · 2 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effectsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
belVita Crunchy Blueberry Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
PopTarts Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts · 96 g Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 4 out of 100 Bad -
Traditional Shortbread Cookies Interbake Foods Inc. · 26 g Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Organic Cinnamon Grahams Annie's · 14.4 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 23 out of 100 Poor
More from Nilla
Sources
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“In 2015, the FDA took the significant step of determining that PHOs, then the major source of artificial trans fat in the food supply, are no longer “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS.”
fda.gov
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Revocation of Uses of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods (88 FR 53764)
“in light of our determination that PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe (GRAS).”
federalregister.gov
-
“Maximum 2 grams per 100 grams of fat in food intended for the final consumer and food intended for supply to retail”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“WHO’s recommendation for adults is to limit consumption of trans fat to less than 1% of total energy intake, which is less than 2.2 g per day for a 2000-calorie diet.”
who.int
-
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 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup
“a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”
ecfr.gov
-
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
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Notice of Modification: Prohibiting the Use of Partially Hydrogenated Oils in Foods
“On September 17, 2018, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) were banned by adding them to Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and other Adulterating Substances in Foods.”
canada.ca
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
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Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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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
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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
-
“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
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu