GoodSwap Get notified
Ben's Original Red Beans & Rice
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Rice pasta

Ben's Original Red Beans & Rice

8.5 oz

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 50

Ben's Original Red Beans & Rice scores 50 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Salt 0.8 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong

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

Better rice and pasta side dishes

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

The Receipt

Red Beans & Rice

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Dextrose
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Canola oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [9][8]
subtotal−47

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 0.8 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [10]
subtotal−3
TOTAL 50Okay

100 − 50 = 50

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

GTIN 00054800423422 · 2026-10-06

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy136 kcal
Fat2 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates25.2 g
Sugars1.4 g
Added sugars0.7 g
Fiber2 g
Protein4.1 g
Salt0.8 g

Serving: 1 pouch (240 g)

Ingredients

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

WATER, PARBOILED LONG GRAIN RICE, RED BEANS, LESS THAN 2% OF: CANOLA OIL, SALT, DEHYDRATED ONION, YEAST EXTRACT, DEHYDRATED RED BELL PEPPER, SUGAR, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, GARLIC POWDER, MALTODEXTRIN, DEHYDRATED PARSLEY, CHILI PEPPER, TORULA YEAST, SPICES, PAPRIKA (COLOR), DEXTROSE, YEAST*, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVORS, VITAMINS AND MINERALS [CALCIUM (CALCIUM CARBONATE), IRON (IRON PHOSPHATE), VITAMIN B3 (NIACINAMIDE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE MONONITRATE), FOLIC ACID], *DRIED, ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SATURATED FAT

Allergens and diets

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest rice pasta in the US

More from Ben's Original

Sources

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

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

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. 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

  10. 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