GoodSwap Get notified
Equate Ibuprofen
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Non food products

Equate Ibuprofen

100 tablets

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Not permitted in some countries
  • Contains added sugars
  • May contain traces of 1,4-dioxane
  • No synthetic dyes
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 25

Equate Ibuprofen scores 25 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Titanium dioxide: EFSA (2021) could not rule out genotoxicity and could not set a safe daily intake, so the EU removed E171 from the list of permitted food additives in 2022. Regulatory
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4, estimated): No NOVA group on file; estimated from 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers. Strong

Capped at 25: Contains titanium dioxide, which is banned in food in the EU.

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

The Receipt

Ibuprofen

START100

Ingredients

  • Lactose
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Titanium dioxide
    Regulatory EFSA (2021) could not rule out genotoxicity and could not set a safe daily intake, so the EU removed E171 from the list of permitted food additives in 2022. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
  • Carnauba wax
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Silicon dioxide
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Microcrystalline cellulose
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin)
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Polyethylene glycols (PEG) and ethoxylates
    Strong Ingredients named with PEG, -eth- or -oxynol- can carry trace 1,4-dioxane from manufacturing (IARC Group 2B). [12][10]
  • Iron oxides
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
subtotal−48.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4, estimated)
    Strong No NOVA group on file; estimated from 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers. [11]
  • 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, bulking agent, color (added), emulsifier, glazing agent, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [11]
subtotal−26

Nutrition

  • Nutrition facts unavailable
    Info No nutrition facts on file, so nutrition was not scored.
subtotal0
TOTAL 25Poor

100 − 74.5 = 25.5 → 26 → capped at 25

Capped at 25. Contains titanium dioxide, which is banned in food in the EU. [4]

Can’t score above 79. Contains lactose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Can’t score above 79. No nutrition facts on file, so we can't confirm excellent.

GTIN 00681131699372 · 2023-10-27

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Ingredients

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

inactive ingredients carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, hypromellose, lactose anhydrous, magnecium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, red iron oxide, sodium starch glycolate, stearic acid, titanium dioxide

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk

  • Not vegan

Always check the package: recipes change.

More from Equate

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. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 of 14 January 2022 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Jan 14, 2022 · Law

    “titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  5. Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive

    European Food Safety Authority · May 6, 2021 · Agency assessment

    “the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  6. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 97th meeting: summary and conclusions (titanium dioxide)

    Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) · Nov 24, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “Considering the very low oral absorption of INS 171, and in the absence of any identifiable hazard associated with INS 171 in the diet, the Committee reaffirmed the ADI “not specified” established at the Thirteenth meeting.”

    who.int

  7. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive: Current science report

    Health Canada · Jul 14, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “In summary, the Food Directorate's position is that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that the food additive TiO2 is a concern for human health.”

    canada.ca

  8. Statement on the safety of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a Food Additive (COT/2024/05)

    Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (UK) · Oct 2, 2024 · Agency assessment

    “The Committee concludes that it is unlikely that there would be a risk to health from exposures of E171 TiO2 from the diet in any of the age groups or scenarios assessed.”

    cot.food.gov.uk

  9. Titanium Dioxide as a Color Additive in Foods

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 4, 2024 · Regulator

    “Other international regulatory bodies including the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have not agreed with EFSA’s assessment.”

    fda.gov

  10. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  12. 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics: A Manufacturing Byproduct

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “1,4-dioxane forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing process of certain cosmetic ingredients.”

    fda.gov

  13. Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jul 3, 2024 · Law

    “This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”

    federalregister.gov

  14. Color Additive Petition From Center for Science in the Public Interest, et al.; Request To Revoke Color Additive Listing for Use of FD&C Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs (90 FR 4628)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jan 16, 2025 · Law

    “This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”

    federalregister.gov

  15. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 30, 2009 · Law

    “cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”

    eur-lex.europa.eu