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Healthy Choice Barbecue Seasoned Steak with Potatoes
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Vegetables based foods

Healthy Choice Barbecue Seasoned Steak with Potatoes

9.5 oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains palm oil
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 24

Healthy Choice Barbecue Seasoned Steak with Potatoes scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
  2. Dextrose: 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.

The Receipt

Barbecue Seasoned Steak with Potatoes

START100

Ingredients

  • Caramel color
    Regulatory The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. [1][2][3][4]
  • Dextrose
    Strong An added sugar. [5][6][7]
  • Molasses
    Strong An added sugar. [5][6][7]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [8]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and modified starch. [8]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 5.9 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some sugar. [5]
  • Salt 0.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [9]
subtotal−4
TOTAL 24Poor

100 − 76.5 = 23.5 → 24

Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel color, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

GTIN 00072655405097 · 2026-03-27

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy112 kcal
Fat1.5 g
Saturated fat0.6 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates18.2 g
Sugars5.9 g
Added sugars5.9 g
Fiber1.5 g
Protein5.9 g
Salt0.4 g

Serving: 1 meal (269 g)

Ingredients

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

russet potatoes, seasoned cooked beef steak and binder product (beef, water, caramel color, dextrose, seasoning [natural flavor, salt, maltodextrin, dried whey, dried cauliflower, sesame oil], modified corn starch, potassium chloride, potassium phosphate, salt, sodium phosphates, spice extractives), water, corn, green and red bell peppers, onions, molasses, tomato paste, barbeque seasoning (brown sugar, sugar, molasses, worcestershire sauce powder [corn syrup, salt, caramel color, garlic, sugar, spices, soy sauce solids (fermented wheat and soybean, salt, maltodextrin, caramel color), palm oil, tamarind, natural flavor], maltodextrin, sodium diacetate, spices including paprika and turmeric, natural smoke flavor [maltodextrin], citric acid, lactose, dehydrated onion and garlic), sugar, salted whiskey (whiskey, salt), modified corn starch, red wine vinegar, salt, natural mesquite smoke flavor, potassium chloride, garlic powder

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sesame

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

More from Healthy Choice

Sources

  1. Questions & Answers About 4-MEI

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 27, 2020 · Regulator

    “Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”

    fda.gov

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

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  3. Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

    PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  4. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu