Breads
Aunt Millie's English Muffins
12 oz/340 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 46
Aunt Millie's English Muffins scores 46 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 3 points 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, emulsifier and industrial protein. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better english muffins
-
English Muffins Stone & Skillet · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 90 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
English Muffins Pacha Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 95 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Original English muffins Lidl Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 83 out of 100 , 37 points higher -
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Flax English Muffins Food For Life · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 77 out of 100 , 31 points higher -
White English Muffins, White Jag 2 · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 73 out of 100 , 27 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
English Muffins
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Calcium propionate minus 2.5 points
- DATEM minus 2.5 points
- Calcium silicate minus 1.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 1.1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 228 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 54.5 = 45.5 → 46
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 228 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 43.9 g |
| Sugars | 1.8 g |
| Added sugars | 1.8 g |
| Fiber | 1.8 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Salt | 1.1 g |
Serving: 1 MUFFIN (57 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- WATER
- YEAST
- ASCORBIC ACID
- CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES)
- FUMARIC ACID
- YELLOW CORN FLOUR
- YELLOW CORNMEAL
- DATEM
- CALCIUM SILICATE
- ENZYMES
- SALT
- SOYBEAN OIL
- SUGAR (high concern)
- CITRIC ACID
- WHEAT GLUTEN
- VINEGAR
Label text, as published
ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, YEAST, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: ASCORBIC ACID, CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES), FUMARIC ACID, YELLOW CORN FLOUR, YELLOW CORNMEAL, DATEM, CALCIUM SILICATE, ENZYMES, SALT, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, CITRIC ACID, WHEAT GLUTEN, VINEGAR.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca
-
“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
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org