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Healthy Choice Meatball Marinara
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Frozen pasta

Healthy Choice Meatball Marinara

283 g

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
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Why it scores 55

Healthy Choice Meatball Marinara scores 55 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Brown sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Calcium chloride: An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). Info

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

The Receipt

Meatball Marinara

START100

Ingredients

  • Brown sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Calcium chloride
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Xanthan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
subtotal−25

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: firming agent and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [4]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Salt 0.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [5]
subtotal−1
TOTAL 55Okay

100 − 45.5 = 54.5 → 55

Can’t score above 79. Contains brown sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00072655401037 · 2026-05-30

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy99 kcal
Fat2.1 g
Saturated fat0.9 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates12.7 g
Sugars2.8 g
Added sugars1.4 g
Fiber2.1 g
Protein6.4 g
Salt0.4 g

Serving: 1 meal (283 g)

Ingredients

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

Parmesan marinara sauce (water, tomatoes in juice [tomatoes, tomato juice, calcium chloride, citric acid], tomato paste, brown sugar, onions, contains 2% or less of: garlic puree, parmesan cheese [part skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], corn starch, potassium chloride, sea salt, spices, xanthan gum). cooked pasta (water, pasta [whole grain wheat flour {ultragrainâ®}, durum wheat semolina, egg white], sunflower oil). cooked meatballs with glaze (meatball [pork, beef, water, bread crumb {unbleached wheat flour, sugar, salt, yeast}, onions, parmesan cheese {part skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes}, tomato paste, isolated soy protein, potassium chloride, sea salt, flavoring], glaze [water, tomato paste, sugar]). spinach. contains: egg, milk, soy, wheat.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Gluten, Egg

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Plastic, Cardboard

Context only: no points in v1.

More from Healthy Choice

Sources

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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