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Healthy Choice POWER BOWLS Italian Chicken Sausage & Peppers
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Frozen meals with meat

Healthy Choice POWER BOWLS Italian Chicken Sausage & Peppers

9.25 oz/262 g

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Seed-oil free
  • Contains whole grains
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Why it scores 37

Healthy Choice POWER BOWLS Italian Chicken Sausage & Peppers scores 37 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sausage and cured meats: IARC classifies processed meat (cured, salted, smoked or fermented) as Group 1, based on colorectal cancer; each 50 g eaten daily is linked to an 18% higher risk. Regulatory
  2. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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 frozen meals

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

POWER BOWLS Italian Chicken Sausage & Peppers

START100

Ingredients

  • Sausage and cured meats
    Regulatory IARC classifies processed meat (cured, salted, smoked or fermented) as Group 1, based on colorectal cancer; each 50 g eaten daily is linked to an 18% higher risk. [1][2]
  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [3][4][5]
  • 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. [6][7]
  • Wine
    Regulatory There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. [8][9]
subtotal−44

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [7]
subtotal−18

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 0.6 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [10]
subtotal−1
TOTAL 37Poor

100 − 63 = 37

Can’t score above 79. Contains sausage and cured meats, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5]

GTIN 00072655001824 · 2026-05-02

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy103 kcal
Fat3.1 g
Saturated fat1 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates12.6 g
Sugars2.7 g
Added sugars0.8 g
Fiber1.9 g
Protein6.1 g
Salt0.6 g

Serving: 1 meal (262 g)

Ingredients

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

COOKED MULTIGRAINS (WATER, BROWN RICE, RED RICE, RED QUINOA, BLACK BARLEY), COOKED ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE (SKINLESS CHICKEN, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SUGAR, SPICES, DEHYDRATED RED BELL PEPPERS, WATER, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORINGS), RED, YELLOW AND GREEN BELL PEPPERS, LEAFY GREENS (KALE, CHARD, SPINACH), WATER, DICED TOMATOES, ONIONS, TOMATO PUREE, PARMESAN CHEESE (PART SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: TOMATO PASTE, OLIVE OIL, DISTILLED VINEGAR, CORN STARCH, CHARDONNAY WINE, GARLIC, SALT, CRUSHED RED PEPPER, GARLIC POWDER, BASIL, PARSLEY, GROUND FENNEL, GROUND BLACK PEPPER.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Gluten

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest frozen meals with meat in the US

More from Healthy Choice

Sources

  1. IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat (Press Release No. 240)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · Oct 26, 2015 · IARC

    “Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.”

    iarc.who.int

  2. Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat (IARC Monographs Vol. 114 working group summary)

    The Lancet Oncology · December 2015 · IARC

    doi.org

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

    U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Aug 14, 2026 · Regulator

    “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

    cdc.gov

  9. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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