Prepared meats
Godshall's Original Turkey Bacon
12 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 28
Godshall's Original Turkey Bacon scores 28 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better bacon
-
Turkey Bacon H-E-B · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 79 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Hickory Smoked Uncured Turkey Bacon Applegate Organics · 8 oz/226 g Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 79 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Uncured Turkey Bacon Appleton Farms · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 67 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Uncured Turkey Bacon Signature Select · 10 oz/283 g Not ultra-processed · No nitrites or nitrates Score 70 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
Organic No Sugar Added Uncured Turkey Bacon 365 Whole Foods Market · 8 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 95 out of 100 , 67 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Original Turkey Bacon
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Sodium nitrite minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.8 g / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Salt 2 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 179 kcal / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Protein 21.4 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 72 = 28
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 179 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 7.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3.6 g |
| Sugars | 3.6 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 21.4 g |
| Salt | 2 g |
Serving: 1 slice (28 g)
Ingredients
- TURKEY THIGH
- TURKEY
- WATER
- POTASSIUM LACTATE
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- SALT
- SODIUM PHOSPHATE
- SUGAR (high concern)
- SODIUM DIACETATE
- SODIUM ERYTHORBATE
- SODIUM NITRITE (high concern)
Label text, as published
TURKEY THIGH, TURKEY, WATER, POTASSIUM LACTATE, DEXTROSE, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SUGAR, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE
Allergens and diets
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
EFSA confirms safe levels for nitrites and nitrates added to food
“They concluded that when nitrites are used at approved levels, their contribution to overall exposure to nitrosamines is of low concern for health.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern
“Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern”
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
-
“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