Bagel breads
Thomas' Mini Bagels
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 42
Thomas' Mini Bagels scores 42 out of 100 (Okay) 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 5 points Salt 1.3 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better bagels
-
Bagel Skinnys Everything LF · 13 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 82 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Low Carb Bagel Sami's Bakery · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Plain Bagels Kroger · 20 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels Queen St. · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 93 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Cinnamon Raisin Organic Bagels One Mighty Mill · 13.0 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 58 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Mini Bagels
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Wheat gluten minus 2.5 points
- Calcium propionate minus 2.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 1.5 points
- Guar gum minus 1.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 291 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 9.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 58 = 42
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 291 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58.1 g |
| Sugars | 5.8 g |
| Added sugars | 5.8 g |
| Fiber | 2.3 g |
| Protein | 9.3 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 85 g
Ingredients
- ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, REDUCED IRON, NIACIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID)
- WATER
- SUGAR (high concern)
- YEAST
- SALT
- WHEAT GLUTEN
- CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND SORBIC ACID (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS)
- CORNMEAL
- MONOGLYCERIDES
- GUAR GUM
- CITRIC ACID
- VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN)
- SOY LECITHIN
Label text, as published
ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, REDUCED IRON, NIACIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], WATER, SUGAR, YEAST, SALT, WHEAT GLUTEN, CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND SORBIC ACID (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS), CORNMEAL, MONOGLYCERIDES, GUAR GUM, CITRIC ACID, VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN), SOY LECITHIN
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
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11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca
-
“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
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
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
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
“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
-
“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
-
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
-
“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