Cakes
Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
520 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Contains artificial flavors
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 19
Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix scores 19 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Dextrose: 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 cake, brownie and cookie mixes
-
Blueberry Muffin Mix Bob's Red Mill · 9 oz/255 g Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 62 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Pumpkin Bread & Muffin mix Miss Jones Organic Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 63 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Self-rising corn meal mix Martha White · 32 oz Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Bobs redmill cornbread and muffin mix Bob's Red Mill · 24 oz/680 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 65 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Self-rising enriched yellow corn meal mix Martha White · 32 oz/2 lb/907 g Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 79 out of 100 , 60 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Artificial flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 57.7 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 1.9 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 423 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 3.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 81.5 = 18.5 → 19
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [10]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 423 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 5.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 84.6 g |
| Sugars | 57.7 g |
| Fiber | 3.8 g |
| Protein | 3.9 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 0.05 package (26 g)
Ingredients
- Sugar (high concern)
- Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)
- Cocoa (Processed with Alkali)
- Palm Oil
- Carob Powder
- Dextrose (high concern)
- Salt
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Artificial Flavor
- Wheat Starch
Label text, as published
Sugar, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Palm Oil, Less than 2% of: Carob Powder, Dextrose, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Artificial Flavor, Wheat Starch. Contains: Wheat
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
“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