Cookies
Aldi Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains palm oil
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 33
Aldi Pecan Shortbread Cookies scores 33 out of 100 (Poor) 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 11 points Sugars 19.4 g / 100 g: Very high in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better cookies
-
Meyer lemon shortbread Rustic Bakery · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 55 out of 100 , 22 points higher -
Vanilla shortbread Rustic Bakery · 4 oz Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 55 out of 100 , 22 points higher -
Shortbread Cookies zero sugar Voortman Bakery · 8 oz Less saturated fat · No added sugars Score 58 out of 100 , 25 points higher -
Pecan Shortbread Cookies Pamela's · 6.25 oz/177 g Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 49 out of 100 , 16 points higher -
Highlander shortbread Walkers · 40 g/1.4 oz Not ultra-processed · No palm oil Score 54 out of 100 , 21 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Palm oil minus 2.5 points
- Soy lecithin minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 19.4 g / 100 g minus 11 points
- Saturated fat 12.9 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Salt 0.5 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 484 kcal / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 67 = 33
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [9]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 484 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 29 g |
| Saturated fat | 12.9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 54.8 g |
| Sugars | 19.4 g |
| Added sugars | 9.7 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 3.2 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g |
Ingredients
- enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced ron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- palm oil
- sugar (high concern)
- pecans
- salt
- baking soda
- whey
- soy lecithin
Label text, as published
enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced ron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, sugar, pecans, contains 2% or less of: salt, baking soda, whey, soy lecithin, contains: pecans, milk, wheat, soy, may contain coconut, egg, macadamia nuts, peanut, walnuts,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cookies on GoodSwap
-
Fig Bar Blueberry Nature's Bakery · 2 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effectsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
belVita Crunchy Blueberry Breakfast Biscuits Belvita · 1.76 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Breakfast Biscuits Belvita Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 13 out of 100 Bad -
Danish Butter Cookies Benton's (Aldi) · 12 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
The Complete Cookie White Chocolate Flavored Macadamia Lenny & Larry's · 140802002 Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatContains added sugarsContains palm oil Score 5 out of 100 Bad
More from Aldi
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
-
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
-
Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods
“The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“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