Salad dressings
Skinnygirl Buttermilk Ranch
8 oz
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains sugar alcohols
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 25
Skinnygirl Buttermilk Ranch scores 25 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Titanium dioxide: EFSA (2021) could not rule out genotoxicity and could not set a safe daily intake, so the EU removed E171 from the list of permitted food additives in 2022. Regulatory
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 8 points 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, non-nutritive sweetener, sequestrant, sugar alcohol (polyol) and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
Capped at 25: Contains titanium dioxide, which is banned in food in the EU.
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better ranch dressing
-
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Trader Joe's No banned ingredients · Less salt Score 66 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Creamy buttermilk ranch Panera Bread · 18 fl oz/532 mL No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 67 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Buttermilk Ranch Ken's Steak House No banned ingredients · Less salt Score 47 out of 100 , 22 points higher -
Organic buttermilk ranch Chef Hak's · 8 fl oz No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 61 out of 100 , 36 points higher -
Ranch Dressing Heinz No banned ingredients · Not ultra-processed Score 79 out of 100 , 54 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Buttermilk Ranch
Ingredients
- Titanium dioxide minus 20 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Sorbitol minus 1.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 1.5 points
- Propylene glycol alginate minus 1.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points
- Potassium sorbate minus 0.5 points
- Calcium disodium EDTA minus 0.5 points
- Phosphoric acid minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 2.3 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Fiber 3.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 68 = 32 → capped at 25
Capped at 25. Contains titanium dioxide, which is banned in food in the EU. [1]
Can’t score above 79. Contains titanium dioxide, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [21]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 33 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16.7 g |
| Sugars | 3.3 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 3.3 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 2.3 g |
Serving: 1 serving (30 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- DISTILLED VINEGAR
- MALTODEXTRIN
- SORBITOL
- CELLULOSE GEL
- BUTTERMILK
- SALT
- GARLIC
- ONION
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL ALGINATE
- LACTIC ACID
- XANTHAN GUM
- POTASSIUM SORBATE
- SODIUM BENZOATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS)
- TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR) (high concern)
- BLACK PEPPER
- PHOSPHORIC ACID
- PARSLEY
- CITRIC ACID
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- GROUND CELERY
- NATURAL FLAVOR
Label text, as published
WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, MALTODEXTRIN, SORBITOL, CELLULOSE GEL, BUTTERMILK, SALT, GARLIC, ONION, PROPYLENE GLYCOL ALGINATE, LACTIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), BLACK PEPPER, PHOSPHORIC ACID, PARSLEY, CITRIC ACID, SUCRALOSE, GROUND CELERY, NATURAL FLAVOR
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Celery
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive
“the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Considering the very low oral absorption of INS 171, and in the absence of any identifiable hazard associated with INS 171 in the diet, the Committee reaffirmed the ADI “not specified” established at the Thirteenth meeting.”
who.int
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Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive: Current science report
“In summary, the Food Directorate's position is that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that the food additive TiO2 is a concern for human health.”
canada.ca
-
Statement on the safety of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a Food Additive (COT/2024/05)
“The Committee concludes that it is unlikely that there would be a risk to health from exposures of E171 TiO2 from the diet in any of the age groups or scenarios assessed.”
cot.food.gov.uk
-
Titanium Dioxide as a Color Additive in Foods
“Other international regulatory bodies including the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have not agreed with EFSA’s assessment.”
fda.gov
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Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
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
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Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)
“‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 182.3640 Potassium sorbate
ecfr.gov
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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
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Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
-
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“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