Rice dishes
Ben's Original Rice Pilaf with Orzo Pasta
8.8 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 44
Ben's Original Rice Pilaf with Orzo Pasta scores 44 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 6 points 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and modified starch. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better rice and pasta side dishes
-
Rice pilaf mix Hannaford No added sugars · No seed oils Score 79 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Rice Pilaf Earthly Grains · 56 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 91 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Rice Medley Trader Joe's · 30 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Organic Quinoa, Brown & Red Rice with Flaxseed Seeds of Change · 240 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Organic Brown Basmati Rice Seeds of Change · 8.5 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 85 out of 100 , 41 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Rice Pilaf with Orzo Pasta
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 56.5 = 43.5 → 44
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 145 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 27.5 g |
| Sugars | 0.7 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0.7 g |
| Protein | 3.6 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 1 portion (250 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- PARBOILED LONG GRAIN RICE
- ORZO PASTA (DURUM WHEAT SEMOLINA, NATURAL FLAVOR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- CANOLA OIL
- SALT
- YEAST EXTRACT
- SUGAR (high concern)
- ONION
- CHICKEN FAT
- CHICKEN BROTH
- MALTODEXTRIN
- POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
- MODIFIED CORN STARCH
- BROCCOLI
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- DRIED SOY SAUCE (WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT)
- SPICES
- PARSLEY
- TURMERIC (COLOR)
- VITAMINS AND MINERALS (CALCIUM (CALCIUM CARBONATE), IRON (IRON PHOSPHATE), VITAMIN B3 (NIACINAMIDE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE MONONITRATE), FOLIC ACID)
- TURMERIC EXTRACT (COLOR)
- DRIED (not recognized)
Label text, as published
WATER, PARBOILED LONG GRAIN RICE, ORZO PASTA (DURUM WHEAT SEMOLINA, NATURAL FLAVOR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), LESS THAN 2% OF: CANOLA OIL, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, SUGAR, ONION*, CHICKEN FAT*, CHICKEN BROTH*, MALTODEXTRIN, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BROCCOLI*, NATURAL FLAVORS, DRIED SOY SAUCE (WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT), SPICES, PARSLEY*, TURMERIC (COLOR), VITAMINS AND MINERALS [CALCIUM (CALCIUM CARBONATE), IRON (IRON PHOSPHATE), VITAMIN B3 (NIACINAMIDE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE MONONITRATE), FOLIC ACID], TURMERIC EXTRACT (COLOR), *DRIED. ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SATURATED FAT AND CHOLESTEROL
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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Rice & Pasta Blend in a Savory Chicken Flavored Sauce Knorr · 65 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsSeed-oil free Score 24 out of 100 Poor -
CHEDDAR BROCCOLI flavor Rice, pasta, cheddar cheese and broccoli with other natural flavors Rice A Roni · 6.5 oz/184 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Yellow Rice Spanish Style Goya · 7 oz Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in salt Score 18 out of 100 Bad -
Creamy Four Cheese Rice A Roni · 6.4 oz/181 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 18 out of 100 Bad - Hibachi chicken rice, fried rice with white meat chicken, grilled onions, carrots and egg Banihana Frozen Meal · 10 oz Ultra-processedContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 64 out of 100 Good
More from Ben's Original
-
Ready Rice Whole Grain Brown Ben's Original · 8.8 oz Score 98 out of 100 Excellent -
Ready Rice Jasmine Ben's Original · 8.5 oz Score 93 out of 100 Excellent -
Ready Rice Coconut Jasmine Ben's Original · 8.5 oz Score 57 out of 100 Okay -
Ready Rice Long Grain & Wild with Herbs and Seasonings Ben's Original · 8.8 oz Score 49 out of 100 Okay
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
-
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
-
“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