Meals with chicken

Campbell's Chunky Creamy Chicken & Dumplings

18.8 oz (1 lb 2.8 oz) 533 g

Okay out of 100 High confidence

Ultra-processed
Contains added sugars
Contains seed oils
No synthetic dyes

Why it scores 40

Campbell's Chunky Creamy Chicken & Dumplings scores 40 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 8 points 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), emulsifier, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial protein, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging

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

Better soups

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Creamy Chicken & Dumplings

START100

Ingredients

Sugar minus 20 points

Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
Natural flavors minus 2.5 points

Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [4][5]
Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points

Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [6][7][8][9]
Modified starch minus 1.5 points

Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 1.5 points

Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) minus 1.5 points

Strong The FDA considers MSG generally recognized as safe; some sensitive people report mild, short-lived symptoms after 3 g or more without food. [10][11][5]
Sodium phosphate minus 0.5 points

Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [12]
Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points

Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
Soy lecithin minus 0.5 points

Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]

subtotal−31

Processing

Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points

Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points

Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), emulsifier, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial protein, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [5]

subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points

Strong High in salt. [13]

subtotal−3

TOTAL 40Okay

100 − 60 = 40

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy	77 kcal
Fat	4.4 g
Saturated fat	0.7 g
Trans fat	0 g
Carbohydrates	6 g
Sugars	0.8 g
Added sugars	0.2 g
Fiber	0.6 g
Protein	3.3 g
Salt	1 g

Serving: 1 can (480 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.

Label text, as published

Water, chicken stock, spaetzle dumplings (water, enriched wheat flour [wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), eggs, enriched durum wheat flour [durum wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), salt, spices, natural flavor, turmeric extract), chicken meat, carrots, celery, vegetable oil, Contains less than 2% of: green beans, peas, modified cornstarch, salt, wheat flour, soy protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, sugar, dried onions, soy protein isolate, sodium phosphate, beta carotene for color, flavoring, spice, dried chicken, butter, cream, chicken fat, xanthan gum, lactic acid, soy lecithin. Contains: Egg, wheat, milk, soy.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg, Celery

Not vegan
Not vegetarian
Not gluten-free
Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Sources

Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

“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

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
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

efsa.europa.eu
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

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

Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

“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
Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

doi.org
Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

doi.org
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
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
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

“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
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
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
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

Score

Why it scores 40

Better soups

Nutrition per 100 g

Ingredients

Allergens and diets

More meals with chicken on GoodSwap

More from Campbell's Chunky

Sources