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Chicken Of The Sea Sardines in mustard sauce
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Canned sardines

Chicken Of The Sea Sardines in mustard sauce

3.75 oz (106 g)

Good out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 62

Chicken Of The Sea Sardines in mustard sauce scores 62 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavor enhancer, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
  3. Saturated fat 3.3 g / 100 g: High in saturated fat. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

The Receipt

Sardines in mustard sauce

START100

Ingredients

  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Modified starch
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
    Strong The FDA considers MSG generally recognized as safe; some sensitive people report mild, short-lived symptoms after 3 g or more without food. [2][3][1]
  • Xanthan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
subtotal−10.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [1]
  • 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavor enhancer, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [1]
subtotal−24

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 3.3 g / 100 g
    Strong High in saturated fat. [4]
  • Salt 1 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [5]
  • Protein 13.2 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [6]
subtotal−4
TOTAL 62Good

100 − 38.5 = 61.5 → 62

GTIN 00048000007087 · 2025-01-22

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy160 kcal
Fat11.3 g
Saturated fat3.3 g
Carbohydrates1.9 g
Protein13.2 g
Salt1 g

Serving: 1 portion (106 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

sardines , mustard sauce (water, mustard powder, vinegar, maltodextrin, modified starch, citric acid, guar gum, spices, monosodium glutamate, turmeric oleoresin, xanthan gum, chili powder), salt

Allergens and diets

Contains: Fish, Mustard

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Metal

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest canned sardines in the US

More from Chicken Of The Sea

Sources

  1. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  2. Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 17, 2026 · Regulator

    “FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).”

    fda.gov

  3. EFSA reviews safety of glutamates added to food

    European Food Safety Authority · Jul 12, 2017 · Agency assessment

    “EFSA re-assessed the safety of glutamates used as food additives and derived a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 30 mg/kg body weight per day for all six of these additives.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  5. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  6. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  7. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  8. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org