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Bigs Dill Pickle Flavored Sunflower Seeds
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Sunflower seeds

Bigs Dill Pickle Flavored Sunflower Seeds

5.35 oz

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
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Why it scores 73

Bigs Dill Pickle Flavored Sunflower Seeds scores 73 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
  3. Fiber 6.7 g / 100 g: A good source of fiber. Strong

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

Better sunflower and pumpkin seeds

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Dill Pickle Flavored Sunflower Seeds

START100

Ingredients

  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
    Strong The FDA considers MSG generally recognized as safe; some sensitive people report mild, short-lived symptoms after 3 g or more without food. [2][3][1]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [4][1]
  • Xanthan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Disodium ribonucleotides
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
subtotal−10.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [1]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [1]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Fiber 6.7 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [5]
  • Protein 26.7 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [5]
subtotal+6
TOTAL 73Good

100 − 27 = 73

GTIN 00896887002202 · 2026-10-03

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy633 kcal
Fat50 g
Saturated fat5 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates16.7 g
Sugars3.3 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber6.7 g
Protein26.7 g
Salt0.3 g

Serving: 1 serving (30 g)

Ingredients

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

Sunflower Seeds, Salt, Maltodextrin, Less than 2% of: Monosodium Glutamate, Sodium Diacetate, Natural Flavor, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate & Disodium Guanylate, Dried Garlic, Dried Onion.

Allergens and diets

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest sunflower seeds in the US

More from Bigs

Sources

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  2. Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 17, 2026 · Regulator

    “FDA considers the addition of MSG to foods to be “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).”

    fda.gov

  3. EFSA reviews safety of glutamates added to food

    European Food Safety Authority · Jul 12, 2017 · Agency assessment

    “EFSA re-assessed the safety of glutamates used as food additives and derived a group acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 30 mg/kg body weight per day for all six of these additives.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  5. 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

  6. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  7. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org