Cereals and their products
Near East Quinoa & Brown Rice Blend Rosemary & Olive Oil
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 27
Near East Quinoa & Brown Rice Blend Rosemary & Olive Oil scores 27 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 Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- 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.
The Receipt
Quinoa & Brown Rice Blend Rosemary & Olive Oil
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Sunflower oil 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 2.6 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Fiber 5.5 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 10.9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 73 = 27
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 364 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68.8 g |
| Sugars | 0.9 g |
| Fiber | 5.5 g |
| Protein | 10.9 g |
| Salt | 2.6 g |
Serving: 1 serving (56 g)
Ingredients
- quinoa
- parboiled long grain brown rice
- salt
- maltodextrin
- yeast extract
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- dried rosemary
- dried parsley
- tomato powder
- dextrose (high concern)
- sugar (high concern)
- citric acid
- spices
- tapioca maltodextrin
- natural flavor
- sunflower oil
- olive oil
- tocopherols (preservative)
Label text, as published
quinoa, parboiled long grain brown rice, salt, maltodextrin, yeast extract, onion powder, garlic powder, dried rosemary, dried parsley, tomato powder, dextrose, sugar, citric acid, spices, tapioca maltodextrin, natural flavor, sunflower oil, olive oil, tocopherols (preservative),
Allergens and diets
- 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
-
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
-
“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
-
“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