Sausages
Impossible Sausage made from plants
13.5 oz/383 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 34
Impossible Sausage made from plants scores 34 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: 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: flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial protein, 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 sausages
-
Plant-Based Sausage Italian Tofurky · 13 oz Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 80 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Plant-Based Sausage Kielbasa Tofurky · 14 oz/397 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 64 out of 100 , 30 points higher -
Smoked Paprika Plant-based Sausage Gusta · 350 g Not ultra-processed · Less saturated fat Score 66 out of 100 , 32 points higher -
Breakfast Sausage Plant-Based Patties Original Beyond · 7.4 oz/210 g No added sugars · No dextrose Score 61 out of 100 , 27 points higher -
Sun Sausage Plant-based Links Cajun Beyond Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 62 out of 100 , 28 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Sausage made from plants
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 2.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Methylcellulose minus 1.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 1.5 points
- Sodium alginate minus 1.5 points
- Konjac minus 0.5 points
- Guar gum minus 0.5 points
- Modified starch minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors 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
- Saturated fat 7.4 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 253 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 5.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 14.7 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 66 = 34
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 253 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 16.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 7.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8.4 g |
| Sugars | 1.1 g |
| Added sugars | 1.1 g |
| Fiber | 5.3 g |
| Protein | 14.7 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 1 link (95 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- SUNFLOWER OIL
- COCONUT OIL
- METHYLCELLULOSE
- SALT
- YEAST EXTRACT
- VEGETAL CASING (SODIUM ALGINATE, KONJAC GUM, GUAR GUM) (not recognized)
- CULTURED DEXTROSE
- FOOD STARCH MODIFIED
- DEXTROSE (high concern)
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- CITRIC ACID
- PAPRIKA
- SPICES
- BLACK PEPPER
- CHILI PEPPER
- CORIANDER
- RED PEPPER
- GARLIC POWDER
- ONION POWDER
- SOY LEGHEMOGLOBIN (not recognized)
- MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT)
- L-TRYPTOPHAN
- SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE VITAMINS & MINERALS: ZINC GLUCONATE
- NIACIN (VITAMIN B3)
- PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6)
- RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2)
- VITAMIN B12
Label text, as published
WATER, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SUNFLOWER OIL, COCONUT OIL, 2% OR LESS OF: METHYLCELLULOSE, SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, VEGETAL CASING (SODIUM ALGINATE, KONJAC GUM, GUAR GUM), CULTURED DEXTROSE, FOOD STARCH MODIFIED, DEXTROSE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, PAPRIKA, SPICES, BLACK PEPPER, CHILI PEPPER, CORIANDER, RED PEPPER, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, SOY LEGHEMOGLOBIN, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT), L-TRYPTOPHAN, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE VITAMINS & MINERALS: ZINC GLUCONATE, NIACIN (VITAMIN B3), PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), VITAMIN B12
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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
-
“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
-
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
-
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