Prepared meats
Smithfield Anytime Favorites Boneless Ham Steak
8 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 31
Smithfield Anytime Favorites Boneless Ham Steak scores 31 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Sodium nitrite: IARC classifies ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation as Group 2A; it classifies processed meat as Group 1. Regulatory
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better deli meat
-
Black Forest Uncured Ham Applegate Naturals · 56 g Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 69 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Farms uncured slow cooked ham Applegate · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Slow Cooked Uncured Ham Applegate Naturals · 10.5 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Ham steak Good & Gather · 8 oz/226 g Not ultra-processed · No sodium nitrite Score 64 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Cube Cooked Uncure Ham Greenfield · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 48 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Boneless Ham Steak
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sodium nitrite minus 20 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 4.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 1.2 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 2.5 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Protein 17.9 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 69.5 = 30.5 → 31
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [13]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 131 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Sugars | 4.8 g |
| Added sugars | 4.8 g |
| Protein | 17.9 g |
| Salt | 2.5 g |
Serving: 1 portion (84 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- SALT
- POTASSIUM LACTATE
- SODIUM PHOSPHATES
- SODIUM DIACETATE
- SODIUM ERYTHORBATE
- SODIUM NITRITE (high concern)
Label text, as published
WATER, DEXTROSE, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SALT, POTASSIUM LACTATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More prepared meats on GoodSwap
-
Smoked Snack Stick Slim Jim · 8 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatContains nitrites or nitrates Score 11 out of 100 Bad -
Turkey Pepperoni Hormel · 6 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 21 out of 100 Poor -
Turkey Bacon Butterball · 12 oz Ultra-processedContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 30 out of 100 Poor -
Smoked Turkey Breast Trader Joe's · 7 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Oven Roasted Turkey Land O'Frost · 9 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugars Score 23 out of 100 Poor - Hickory Smoked Undercured Sunday Bacon Applegate Organics · 8 oz/226 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additives Score 61 out of 100 Good
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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
EFSA confirms safe levels for nitrites and nitrates added to food
“They concluded that when nitrites are used at approved levels, their contribution to overall exposure to nitrosamines is of low concern for health.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern
“Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern”
efsa.europa.eu
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“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
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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