Bagel breads
L'oven Fresh Bagels
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 43
L'oven Fresh Bagels scores 43 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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
- minus 5 points Salt 1.2 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better bagels
-
Plain Bagels Kroger · 20 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Low Carb Bagel Sami's Bakery · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 94 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Cinnamon Raisin Bagels Queen St. · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 93 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Cinnamon Raisin Organic Bagels One Mighty Mill · 13.0 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 57 points higher -
Bagel Skinnys Everything LF · 13 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 82 out of 100 , 39 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Bagels
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Wheat gluten minus 2.5 points
- Calcium propionate minus 2.5 points
- Sorbic acid minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 1.5 points
- Guar gum minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.3 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.2 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 266 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Protein 9.6 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 57.5 = 42.5 → 43
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 266 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 1.6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53.2 g |
| Sugars | 5.3 g |
| Added sugars | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 2.1 g |
| Protein | 9.6 g |
| Salt | 1.2 g |
Serving: 1 bagel (94 g)
Ingredients
- enriched wheat flour cts (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- water
- sugar (high concern)
- contains 2% or less: (94g) wheat gluten
- salt
- yeast
- preservatives (calcium propionate, sorbic acid, citric acid) (not recognized)
- cornmeal
- monoglycerides
- guar gum
- enzymes
- ascorbic acid
- sesame seeds
Label text, as published
enriched wheat flour cts (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, , folic acid), water, sugar, contains 2% or less: (94g) wheat gluten, salt, yeast, preservatives (calcium propionate, sorbic acid, citric acid), cornmeal, monoglycerides, guar gum, enzymes, ascorbic acid, sesame seeds, contains: wheat, sesame seeds, value* 2% 0% fresh 0% 20% 18% r contains bioengineered food ingredients,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten, Sesame
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- 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
-
11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca
-
“By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
-
“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
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org