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Kinnikinnick Foods Vanilla wafers
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Vanilla stuffed wafers

Kinnikinnick Foods Vanilla wafers

180 g

Bad out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • High in saturated fat
  • Contains added sugars
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 0

Kinnikinnick Foods Vanilla wafers scores 0 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Corn syrup: 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.

Better wafer cookies

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

The Receipt

Vanilla wafers

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Corn syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Vegetable shortening
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Powdered cellulose
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [5][4]
  • Sodium acid pyrophosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [6]
  • Calcium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [6]
  • Modified cellulose
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Sunflower lecithin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
subtotal−48.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, color (added), emulsifier, flavoring, industrial fat, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [4]
subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 27.8 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 6.9 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in saturated fat. [7]
  • Salt 0.9 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [8]
  • Energy 444 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−26
TOTAL 0Bad

100 − 100.5 = -0.5 → 0

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

Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [9]

GTIN 00620133003251 · 2025-09-27

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy444 kcal
Fat13.9 g
Saturated fat6.9 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates75 g
Sugars27.8 g
Added sugars25 g
Fiber2.8 g
Protein2.8 g
Salt0.9 g

Serving: 7 wafers (32 g)

Ingredients

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

CANE SUGAR, EGG WHITES, WHITE RICE FLOUR, POTATO STARCH*, NON-HYDROGENATED SHORTENING (PALM OIL), PEA STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, CELLULOSE, WATER, TAPIOCA SYRUP, NATURAL FLAVORS, SALT, LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, PEA STARCH, MONO CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), MODIFIED CELLULOSE, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, BETA-CAROTENE (COLOR).

Allergens and diets

Contains: Egg

  • Not vegan
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest vanilla stuffed wafers in the US

More from Kinnikinnick Foods

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. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  6. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  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