Frozen snacks and starters
La Boulangerie Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets
85 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains nitrites or nitrates
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 13
La Boulangerie Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets scores 13 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Ham: IARC classifies processed meat (cured, salted, smoked or fermented) as Group 1, based on colorectal cancer; each 50 g eaten daily is linked to an 18% higher risk. Regulatory
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
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The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Smoked Ham & Swiss Cheese Pockets
Ingredients
- Ham minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sodium nitrite minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 11.8 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 1.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 365 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 16.5 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 87.5 = 12.5 → 13
Can’t score above 79. Contains ham, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [13]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 365 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 20 g |
| Saturated fat | 11.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0.6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30.6 g |
| Sugars | 5.9 g |
| Added sugars | 4.7 g |
| Fiber | 1.2 g |
| Protein | 16.5 g |
| Salt | 1.4 g |
Serving: 1 portion (85 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, ENZYME, WHEAT STARCH, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, FOLIC ACID)
- LOW SODIUM SMOKED HAM (WATER, POTASSIUM LACTATE, DEXTROSE, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE) (high concern)
- SWISS CHEESE (PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES)
- WATER
- BUTTER (CREAM, NATURAL FLAVOR)
- SUGAR (high concern)
- MILK POWDER
- YEAST
- SEA SALT
- DOUGH CONDITIONER (WHEAT FLOUR, XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, DEACTIVATED YEAST, ENZYMES, ASCORBIC ACID)
- MILK PROTEIN (CASEIN)
- DEACTIVATED YEAST
Label text, as published
ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, ENZYME, WHEAT STARCH, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, FOLIC ACID), LOW SODIUM SMOKED HAM (WATER, POTASSIUM LACTATE, DEXTROSE, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE), SWISS CHEESE (PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), WATER, BUTTER (CREAM, NATURAL FLAVOR), SUGAR, MILK POWDER, YEAST, SEA SALT, DOUGH CONDITIONER (WHEAT FLOUR, XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, DEACTIVATED YEAST, ENZYMES, ASCORBIC ACID), MILK PROTEIN (CASEIN), DEACTIVATED YEAST.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More frozen snacks and starters on GoodSwap
More from La Boulangerie
Sources
-
IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat (Press Release No. 240)
“Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.”
iarc.who.int
-
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