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Perdue Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Chicken nuggets

Perdue Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets

29 oz/1.81 lb

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • Contains palm oil
  • Certified organic
  • No synthetic dyes
  • Contains whole grains
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Why it scores 50

Perdue Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets scores 50 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Salt 1.3 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong

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

Better chicken nuggets and tenders

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

The Receipt

Whole Grain Chicken Nuggets

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Wheat gluten
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Soybean oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [5][6][7][8]
  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [9][10][11]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Sunflower oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [5][6][7][8]
subtotal−29.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavor enhancer and industrial protein. [4]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 3 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some saturated fat. Counted at half for this whole-food category. [9]
  • Salt 1.3 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [12]
  • Energy 250 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. Counted at half for this whole-food category. [2]
  • Protein 14.3 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [2]
subtotal−5

Bonuses

  • Certified organic
    Info Carries a certified-organic label. [13][14]
subtotal+5
TOTAL 50Okay

100 − 50.5 = 49.5 → 50

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

GTIN 00072745804786 · 2025-08-03

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy250 kcal
Fat13.1 g
Saturated fat3 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates16.7 g
Sugars1.2 g
Added sugars1.2 g
Fiber2.4 g
Protein14.3 g
Salt1.3 g

Serving: 4 PIECES (84 g)

Ingredients

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

ORGANIC BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, ORGANIC WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR. CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SEA SALT, ORGANIC CORN STARCH, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, SALT, ORGANIC WHEAT GLUTEN, ORGANIC YELLOW CORN FLOUR, ORGANIC ONION POWDER, ORGANIC GARLIC POWDER, YEAST, ORGANIC SOYBEAN OIL, ORGANIC DRIED CHICKEN STOCK, ORGANIC PALM OIL, ORGANIC WHITE PEPPER, SODIUM BICARBONATE, YEAST EXTRACT, ORGANIC PAPRIKA, ORGANIC OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (ORGANIC PAPRIKA, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER OIL).

Allergens and diets

Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Celery

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

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest chicken nuggets in the US

More from Perdue

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. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  6. Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

    BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org

  8. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  10. Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods

    European Food Safety Authority · May 3, 2016 · Agency assessment

    “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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · May 30, 2018 · Law

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  14. 7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Feb 17, 2010 · Law

    “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

  15. 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

  16. 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