GoodSwap Get notified
Duncan Hines Angel cake mix
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Cakes

Duncan Hines Angel cake mix

16 oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • High in salt
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains sulfate surfactants
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 25

Duncan Hines Angel cake mix scores 25 out of 100 (Poor) 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. Sugars 60.5 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong

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

Better cake, brownie and cookie mixes

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

The Receipt

Angel cake mix

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
    Strong An effective surfactant that is safe in rinse-off use but can irritate skin and eyes, especially at higher concentrations or with long contact. [4]
  • Egg white protein
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
  • 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]
  • 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. [7][5]
subtotal−33

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring and industrial protein. [5]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 60.5 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Salt 1.8 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [8]
  • Energy 368 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−23
TOTAL 25Poor

100 − 75.5 = 24.5 → 25

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

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

GTIN 00644209419005 · 2026-02-26

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy368 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates81.6 g
Sugars60.5 g
Added sugars60.5 g
Fiber0 g
Protein7.9 g
Salt1.8 g

Serving: 1 Slice (27 g)

Ingredients

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

SUGAR, ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WHEAT STARCH, POWDERED EGG WHITE (EGG ALBUMEN, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE [WHIPPING AID]), LEAVENING (MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CREAM OF TARTAR), LESS THAN 2% OF: CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Wheat, Gluten, Egg

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest cakes in the US

More from Duncan Hines

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. Human and Environmental Toxicity of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Evidence for Safe Use in Household Cleaning Products

    Environmental Health Insights · Jan 1, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  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. 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

  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