Muffins
Pearl River Pastry Company Mini-Muffins
10 oz/284 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 34
Pearl River Pastry Company Mini-Muffins scores 34 out of 100 (Poor) 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 14 points Sugars 30.9 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better muffins
-
Blueberry Muffin Chef Pierre Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Milk to the max Superfood Lactation Bar Blueberry Muffin Boobie Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Cranberry Orange Muffins Veggies Made Great · 24 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 62 out of 100 , 28 points higher -
Jalapeño Corn Muffins Daily Chef Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 89 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Blueberry Raspberry oat bran muffins Trader Joe's · 19 oz (1 lb 3 oz) 539 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 31 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Mini-Muffins
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Safflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 30.9 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 364 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 66.5 = 33.5 → 34
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 364 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 16.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 54.6 g |
| Sugars | 30.9 g |
| Added sugars | 33.3 g |
| Fiber | 1.8 g |
| Protein | 3.6 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 24g
Ingredients
- NON-GMO SUGAR (high concern)
- NON-GMO UNENRICHED FLOUR
- NON-GMO AND ORGANIC RICE MILK (FILTERED WATER, BROWN RICE [PARTIALLY MILLED], EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, SAFFLOWER OIL, SUNFLOWER OIL, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SEA SALT, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D2, VITAMIN B12)
- NON-GMO CANOLA OIL
- WATER
- BLUEBERRIES
- SALT
- NON-GMO BAKING POWDER (MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE [BAKING SODA], NON-GMO CORN STARCH)
- BAKING SODA (SODIUM BICARBONATE)
- NATURAL LEMON FLAVOR
- VANILLA
Label text, as published
NON-GMO SUGAR, NON-GMO UNENRICHED FLOUR, NON-GMO AND ORGANIC RICE MILK (FILTERED WATER, BROWN RICE [PARTIALLY MILLED], EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL AND/OR SAFFLOWER OIL AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SEA SALT, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D2, VITAMIN B12), NON-GMO CANOLA OIL, WATER, BLUEBERRIES, SALT, NON-GMO BAKING POWDER (MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE [BAKING SODA], NON-GMO CORN STARCH), BAKING SODA (SODIUM BICARBONATE), NATURAL LEMON FLAVOR, VANILLA.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More muffins on GoodSwap
-
Double Chocolate Muffins Veggies Made Great · 12 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains whole grains Score 36 out of 100 Poor -
Chocolate Chip Muffins Little Bites · 165 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 0 out of 100 Bad -
Chocolate Chip Muffins Little Bites · 1.65 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 0 out of 100 Bad -
Organic Baked Oat Cups Apple Crumble Made Good Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Mini muffin bites Kirkland · 47 g Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effectsContains seed oils Score 21 out of 100 Poor -
Little Bites Blueberry Muffins Entenmann's Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 13 out of 100 Bad
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
-
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
-
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