Meat analogues
Impossible Chicken Nuggets
32 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 20
Impossible Chicken Nuggets scores 20 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 chicken nuggets and tenders
-
Breaded Chicken Tenderloin Breasts Trader Joe's No added sugars · No dextrose Score 69 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Crispy Chicken Breast Strips Tyson · 25 oz No added sugars · No dextrose Score 75 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Dino Buddies Yummy · 21 oz No added sugars · No dextrose Score 64 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Chicken Breast Strips Tyson · 56 oz/3.5 lb/1.58 kg Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 80 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
ORIGINAL Plant Chicken Pieces Daring · 14 g No added sugars · No dextrose Score 70 out of 100 , 50 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Vegetable oil (unspecified) minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Soy protein isolate / concentrate minus 1.5 points
- Methylcellulose minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 0.5 points
- Yeast extract minus 0.5 points
- Modified starch minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.6 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 253 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 13.7 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 80 = 20
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 253 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 12.6 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g |
| Sugars | 1.1 g |
| Added sugars | 1.1 g |
| Fiber | 2.1 g |
| Protein | 13.7 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 5 pieces (95 g)
Ingredients
- Water
- Wheat Concentrate
- Oil
- Soybean Oil
- Wheat Flour
- Soy Protein
- Potato Starch
- Methylcellulose
- Natural Flavors
- Salt
- Cultured Dextrose
- Wheat Gluten
- Yeast Extract
- Yellow Corn Flour
- Dextrose (high concern)
- Food Starch Modified
- Sugar (high concern)
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Spices
- Leavening (Cream of Tartar, Sodium Bicarbonate) (not recognized)
- Dried Yeast
- Paprika Extract
- Vitamin E (Tocopherols)
- Zinc
- Vitamins (B3, B5, B1, B6, B2, B12)
Label text, as published
Water, Wheat Concentrate, Oil, Soybean Oil, Wheat Flour, Soy Protein, Potato Starch, Methylcellulose, Natural Flavors, Salt, Cultured Dextrose, Wheat Gluten, Yeast Extract, Yellow Corn Flour, Dextrose, Food Starch Modified, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Spices, Leavening (Cream of Tartar, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dried Yeast, Paprika Extract, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Zinc, Vitamins (B3, B5, B1, B6, B2, B12)
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More meat analogues on GoodSwap
-
Black Bean Veggie Burger Actual Veggies · 1 unit Ultra-processedNo additivesContains whole grains Score 83 out of 100 Excellent -
Ground "Beef" Abbot's · 10 oz High in saltNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Impossible Chicken Patties Impossible Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Diced Chiqin Pieces Quorn · 12 oz/340 g Ultra-processed Score 70 out of 100 Good -
Mycelium Cutlets Classic Animal-Free Meati Ultra-processedContains whole grains Score 81 out of 100 Excellent -
Plant-Based Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'n Gardein · 10.5 oz/300 g Not permitted in some countriesUltra-processedContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 13 out of 100 Bad
More from Impossible
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
-
“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