Pitas
Joseph's Greek Style pocketless Pita
14 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- Contains palm oil
Why it scores 23
Joseph's Greek Style pocketless Pita scores 23 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better pita, naan and flatbreads
-
White Greek Style Pita Walmart · 16.8 oz/480 g Less salt · No added sugars Score 61 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Uncooked roti- chapati Roti Fresh Original · 69 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Tandoori Style Naan Bites Member's Mark Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 73 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Tandoori Naan Trader Joe's · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 67 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Whole wheat pita Middle East Bakery · 17 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 94 out of 100 , 71 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Greek Style pocketless Pita
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Palm oil minus 1.5 points
- Guar gum minus 1 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 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 283 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 9.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 77.5 = 22.5 → 23
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [13]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 283 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49.5 g |
| Sugars | 2 g |
| Added sugars | 2 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Protein | 9.1 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 1 pita (99 g)
Ingredients
- Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
- Malted Barley Flour
- Water
- Yeast
- Palm Oil
- Cellulose Gum (moderate concern)
- Corn Starch
- Dextrose (high concern)
- Enzymes
- Guar Gum
- L-Cysteine (plant-based)
- Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Aluminum Sulfate, Sodium Bicarbonate) (not recognized)
- Microcrystalline Cellulose
- Monoglycerides
- Preservative (Calcium Propionate, Fumaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate) (not recognized)
- Salt
- Soybean Oil
- Soy Flour
- Sugar (high concern)
- Wheat Gluten
Label text, as published
Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Malted Barley Flour, Water, Yeast, Palm Oil, Cellulose Gum, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Enzymes, Guar Gum, L-Cysteine (plant-based), Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Aluminum Sulfate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Monoglycerides, Preservative (Calcium Propionate, Fumaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate), Salt, Soybean Oil, Soy Flour, Sugar, Wheat Gluten.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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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
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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
-
“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
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org