Chicken nuggets
Perdue Dino Nuggets
24 oz/1.5 lb
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Certified organic
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 52
Perdue Dino Nuggets scores 52 out of 100 (Okay) 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
- plus 5 points Certified organic: Carries a certified-organic label. Info
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better chicken nuggets and tenders
-
Lightly Breaded Dino Nuggets Realgood Foods Co. · 20 oz No added sugars · No palm oil Score 75 out of 100 , 23 points higher -
Organic Chicken Wing Sections Trader Joe's · 32 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Chicken Wings First & Second Sections Kirkland Signature Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 93 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken Drumsticks Just Bare · 112 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Grilled Chicken Breast Strips Applegate Naturals · 84 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 93 out of 100 , 41 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Dino Nuggets
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Wheat gluten minus 2.5 points
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 2.7 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 204 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 16.1 g / 100 g plus 4 points
Bonuses
- Certified organic plus 5 points
100 − 48.5 = 51.5 → 52
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 204 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.7 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7.5 g |
| Sugars | 1.1 g |
| Added sugars | 1.1 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 16.1 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 6 PIECES (93 g)
Ingredients
- ORGANIC BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT
- WATER
- ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR
- SEA SALT
- ORGANIC CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER
- SALT
- ORGANIC WHEAT GLUTEN
- ORGANIC ONION POWDER
- ORGANIC PALM OIL
- YEAST
- ORGANIC YEAST EXTRACT
- YEAST EXTRACT
- ORGANIC MALTODEXTRIN
- ORGANIC SPICES
- PAPRIKA EXTRACT
- ORGANIC WHITE PEPPER
Label text, as published
ORGANIC BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, WATER, ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR. CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SEA SALT, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, SALT, ORGANIC WHEAT GLUTEN, ORGANIC ONION POWDER, ORGANIC PALM OIL, YEAST, ORGANIC YEAST EXTRACT, YEAST EXTRACT, ORGANIC MALTODEXTRIN, ORGANIC SPICES, PAPRIKA EXTRACT, ORGANIC WHITE PEPPER.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More chicken nuggets on GoodSwap
-
Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks Kirkland · 64 oz High in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 63 out of 100 Good -
Chicken Nuggets Impossible · 13.5 oz (383 g) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks Just Bare · 64 oz (4 lb) Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 53 out of 100 Okay -
Chicken Breast Dino Nuggets Perdue · 12 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsNo synthetic dyes Score 49 out of 100 Okay -
Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets Bell & Evans · 12 oz Contains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo additives Score 72 out of 100 Good -
Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets Great Value · 32 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 44 out of 100 Okay
More from Perdue
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
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“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
-
7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)
“Any agricultural product that is sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be: (a) Produced in accordance with the requirements specified in § 205.101 or §§ 205.202 through 205.207”
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