Pasta salads
Suddenly! Pasta Salad classic
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 35
Suddenly! Pasta Salad classic scores 35 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 7.5 points 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better frozen meals
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Greek Pasta Feta Salad Summer Fresh · 300 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 87 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
3 CHEESE PASTA with EGGPLANT Trader Joe's · 370 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 83 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Pesto Pasta Bowl Farmer's Fridge · 8.75 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 85 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
3 Cheese Spinach & Artichoke Pasta Trader Joe's · 340 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 89 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Tri Color Pasta Salad Taste Of Inspirations · 0.62 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 87 out of 100 , 52 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Suddenly! Pasta Salad classic
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 1.5 points
- Canola oil minus 1.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 0.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 0.5 points
- Guar gum minus 0.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 0.5 points
- Silicon dioxide minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 346 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 3.8 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 9.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 65.5 = 34.5 → 35
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 346 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 71.2 g |
| Sugars | 5.8 g |
| Added sugars | 3.8 g |
| Fiber | 3.8 g |
| Protein | 9.6 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 1 portion (52 g)
Ingredients
- Enriched Plain/Spinach/Tomato Rotini (wheat flour, spinach, tomato, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- Maltodextrin
- Salt
- Modified Corn Starch
- Sugar (high concern)
- Red Bell Pepper
- Potassium Chloride
- Citric Acid
- Basil
- Parsley
- Natural Flavor
- Garlic
- Onion
- Vegetable Oil (canola, soybean, sunflower oil)
- Spice
- Guar Gum
- Vinegar
- Whey
- Romano Cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
- Yeast Extract
- Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent)
Label text, as published
Enriched Plain/Spinach/Tomato Rotini (wheat flour, spinach, tomato, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Maltodextrin, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Red Bell Pepper, Potassium Chloride, Citric Acid, Basil, Parsley, Natural Flavor, Garlic, Onion, Vegetable Oil (canola, soybean and/or sunflower oil), Spice, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Whey, Romano Cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent)
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Plastic, Recycled paperboard
Context only: no points in v1.
More from Suddenly!
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
-
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
-
“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
-
“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