Sausages
Oscar Mayer Wieners
16 oz/1 lb
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 20
Oscar Mayer Wieners scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: 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
-
Uncured Beef Hot Dogs Teton Waters Ranch Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Uncured Beef Hot Dogs Simply Nature · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 72 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Organic Uncured Grass Fed Beef Hot Dogs Trader Joe's · 47 g Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 79 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
The Great Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dog Applegate Organics · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 70 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs 365 Whole Foods Market · 12 oz/340 g No nitrites or nitrates · No added sugars Score 75 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
Wieners
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Cultured celery powder (natural nitrite source) minus 7.5 points
- Mechanically separated meat minus 1.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 1 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 6.1 g / 100 g minus 3.5 points
- Salt 2.3 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 246 kcal / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Protein 12.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 80 = 20
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 246 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 22.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 6.1 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.8 g |
| Sugars | 1.8 g |
| Added sugars | 1.8 g |
| Protein | 12.3 g |
| Salt | 2.3 g |
Serving: 1 link (57 g)
Ingredients
- MECHANICALLY SEPARATED TURKEY
- MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN
- PORK
- WATER
- CULTURED DEXTROSE
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- SALT
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR
- CULTURED CELERY JUICE (moderate concern)
- SODIUM PHOSPHATE
- CHERRY POWDER
- FLAVOR
Label text, as published
MECHANICALLY SEPARATED TURKEY, MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN, PORK, WATER, CULTURED DEXTROSE*, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF DEXTROSE, SALT, CORN SYRUP, DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR, CULTURED CELERY JUICE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CHERRY POWDER, FLAVOR.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Celery
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More sausages on GoodSwap
-
Chicken Breakfast Links Amylu · 40 oz Score 89 out of 100 Excellent -
Cooked Uncured Polish Sausage Teton Waters Ranch · 10 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Andouille Chicken Sausages Amylu · 40 oz High in salt Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Beef Chorizo Cacique · 9 oz/255 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitrates Score 42 out of 100 Okay -
Organic Parmesan & Mushroom Chicken Sausage Whole Foods Market · 12 oz High in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 60 out of 100 Good -
Uncured Beef Hotdogs Teton Waters Ranch · 8 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good
More from Oscar Mayer
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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
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
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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