Iced teas
Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai with natural flavors
1
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains caffeine
Why it scores 35
Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai with natural flavors scores 35 out of 100 (Poor) 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 14 points Sugars 10.4 g / 100 ml: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better bottled tea
-
Black Tea with Vanilla Pure Leaf · 1.0 oz No added sugars · No sugar Score 80 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Organic Dragon Tongue Ginger Chai Third Street · 32 fl oz/946 mL Not ultra-processed · No gum arabic (acacia) Score 69 out of 100 , 34 points higher -
Sweet Tea Gold Peak · 18.5 fl oz (1.16 PT) (547 mL) Not ultra-processed · No gum arabic (acacia) Score 77 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Green Tea with Lemon Bigelow No added sugars · No sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Sugar Land Sweet Tea Texas Tea · 16 fl oz/473 mL Not ultra-processed · No gum arabic (acacia) Score 78 out of 100 , 43 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Vanilla Chai with natural flavors
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Gum arabic (acacia) minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Sugars 10.4 g / 100 ml minus 14 points
- Energy 71 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
100 − 65.5 = 34.5 → 35
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 71 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 11.3 g |
| Sugars | 10.4 g |
| Added sugars | 10 g |
| Fiber | 0.4 g |
| Protein | 2.9 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 8 OZA (240 ml)
Ingredients
- SOY MILK FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, SOY MILK CONCENTRATE)
- CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- ACACIA GUM
- SEA SALT
- GREEN TEA (WATER, GREEN TEA EXTRACT)
Label text, as published
SOY MILK FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, SOY MILK CONCENTRATE), CANE SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS: SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, ACACIA GUM, SEA SALT, GREEN TEA (WATER, GREEN TEA EXTRACT).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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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
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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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
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“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
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Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
“For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.”
fda.gov
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Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)
“‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”
eur-lex.europa.eu