Prepared salads
Suddenly! Pasta salad
15.50 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 36
Suddenly! Pasta salad scores 36 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
-
Greek Pasta Feta Salad Summer Fresh · 300 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 87 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
3 CHEESE PASTA with EGGPLANT Trader Joe's · 370 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 83 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Tri Color Pasta Salad Taste Of Inspirations · 0.62 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 87 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Pesto Pasta Bowl Farmer's Fridge · 8.75 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 85 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
3 Cheese Spinach & Artichoke Pasta Trader Joe's · 340 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 89 out of 100 , 53 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Pasta salad
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
- Guar gum minus 1.5 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 − 64 = 36
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 |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 75 g |
| Sugars | 5.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 3.8 g |
| Protein | 9.6 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 52g
Ingredients
- Enriched Plain/Spinach/Tomato Rotini
- Maltodextrin
- Salt
- Modified Corn Starch
- Sugar (high concern)
- Red Bell Pepper
- Potassium Chloride
- Citric Acid
- Basil
- Parsley
- Natural Flavor
- Garlic
- Onion
- Vegetable Oil
- Spice
- Guar Gum
- Vinegar
- Whey
- Romano Cheese
- Yeast Extract
- Silicon Dioxide
Label text, as published
Enriched Plain/Spinach/Tomato Rotini, Maltodextrin, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Red Bell Pepper, Potassium Chloride, Citric Acid, Basil, Parsley, Natural Flavor, Garlic, Onion, Vegetable Oil, Spice, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Whey, Romano Cheese, Yeast Extract, Silicon Dioxide.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More prepared salads on GoodSwap
-
Four Bean Salad Paisley Farm · 1 L Ultra-processedContains added sugarsNo additives Score 36 out of 100 Poor -
Mediterranean Crunch Chopped Kit Taylor Farms · 11 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsContains palm oil Score 36 out of 100 Poor -
Chopped Kit Asian Fresh Express · 12.0 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 23 out of 100 Poor -
Suddenly Pasta Salad Caesar Betty Crocker · 7.25 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 16 out of 100 Bad -
Chickpea Salad Park Street Deli · 8 oz Contains seed oils Score 78 out of 100 Good -
Southwest Chopped Salad Kit Little Salad Bar Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 40 out of 100 Okay
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