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Ben's Original Long Grain & Wild Rice Original Recipe
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Rices

Ben's Original Long Grain & Wild Rice Original Recipe

6 oz

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • Contains added sugars
  • No synthetic dyes
  • Contains whole grains
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Why it scores 43

Ben's Original Long Grain & Wild Rice Original Recipe scores 43 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Salt 2.4 g / 100 g: Very 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

Long Grain & Wild Rice Original Recipe

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • 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. [5][4]
  • Silicon dioxide
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
subtotal−28

Processing

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

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 2.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [6]
  • Protein 10.5 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−5
TOTAL 43Okay

100 − 57 = 43

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

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]

GTIN 00054800423644 · 2026-05-14

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy351 kcal
Fat0.9 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates73.7 g
Sugars1.8 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber1.8 g
Protein10.5 g
Salt2.4 g

Serving: 2 o z (57 g)

Ingredients

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

PARBOILED LONG GRAIN RICE, WILD RICE, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, ONION*, PARSLEY*, CELERY*, MALTODEXTRIN, SUGAR, SPINACH*, POTASSIUM SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, AUTOLYZED YEAST, GARLIC*, TORULA YEAST, MUSHROOM*, SPICES (BLACK PEPPER, THYME, SAGE, MARJORAM, ROSEMARY, NUTMEG), SILICON DIOXIDE, CARROT*, CITRIC ACID, TOMATO*, VITAMINS AND MINERALS [CALCIUM (CALCIUM CARBONATE), IRON (IRON PHOSPHATE), VITAMIN B3 (NIACINAMIDE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMIN MONONITRATE), FOLIC ACID], TURMERIC (COLOR), NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR, *DRIED

Allergens and diets

Contains: Celery

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  8. 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

  9. 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