This product is not certified organic [read more]
Products bearing the USDA certified organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredient, and must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and free of genetically engineered ingredients.
Contains food additives of moderate concern
Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor" [read more]
Added "flavors" are secret and often complex mixtures of chemicals that modify and manipulate the taste and smell of food. The lack of disclosure is a public right to know issue and especially concerning to people with unusual food allergies or on restricted diets.
Contains 59% of the Institute of Medicine's daily sodium (salt) recommendations based on adequate intake [read more]
This product contains a high percentage of the Institute of Medicine's recommended adequate intake for sodium of 1500 mg a day (IOM 2005). This value is much lower than what the FDA requires be listed on food labels -- 2400 mg.Americans average 3,400 mg of sodium a day. Most of this sodium comes from processed foods where sodium is added to mask the lack of freshness by enhancing the flavor, texture or palatability and extending shelf-life (IOM 2010). Many of these uses are for the manufacturers benefit and not the consumer's health as excess sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease (IOM 2010).
Product has been classified as having moderate processing concerns
From the Package
POTATOES, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, EGG YOLKS, VINEGAR, SALT), MUSTARD (WATER, VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER, SPICES, ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR], XANTHAN GUM, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR), DILL PICKLE CUBES (CUCUMBER VINEGAR, SALT, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, NATURAL FLAVORING, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM BENZOATE [PRESERVATIVE). ALUM, TURMERIC, POLYSORBATE 80), CELERY, SUGAR, ONIONS, WATER, RED BELL PEPPERS, SALT, VINEGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), XANTHAN GUM, ANNATTO EXTRACT (COLOR).
Products remain in the Database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores, even when they have been discontinued (products may remain in stores and pantries long past the date they cease to be manufactured). EWG marks a product it is aware has been discontinued with a banner identifying it as such.
Please note that EWG obtains the displayed images of products from third parties and that the product's manufacturer or packager may change the product's packaging at any point in time. Therefore, EWG assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of images presented.
FAQs
The new tool is the most comprehensive food-rating database available to consumers, EWG said. Its scoring system factors in not only nutrition, but also ingredients of concern, such as food additives, and contaminants. It also estimates the degree to which foods have been processed.
What is the best food database? ›
FooDB is the world's largest and most comprehensive resource on food constituents, chemistry and biology. It provides information on both macronutrients and micronutrients, including many of the constituents that give foods their flavor, color, taste, texture and aroma.
What website rates processed food? ›
Processing. The processing score reflects EWG's best estimate of the extent to which a particular food has been processed. Scoring factors include modification of individual ingredients from whole foods and the number of artificial ingredients.
Can you trust the EWG? ›
EWG Verified® recognizes products that meet EWG's strictest standards for your health. This means none of EWG's chemicals of concern. This means full transparency. This means a mark you can trust.
What are the criticisms of the EWG? ›
According to Kavin Senapathy of Science Moms, the EWG "frightens consumers about chemicals and their safety, cloaking fear mongering in a clever disguise of caring and empowerment." His main criticisms are its use of "fundamentally flawed" methodologies for evaluating food, cosmetics, children's products, and more, and ...
Who is the most accurate source of nutrition information? ›
Registered dietitians or professionals with advanced degrees in the field of nutrition are the most credible sources for sound nutrition advice.
Is there an app that tells you how good your food is? ›
Yuka is a free mobile app that allows you to scan the barcodes of food and personal care products and instantly see their impact on your health. A rating and detailed information help you understand the analysis of each product.
What is the best website to check food nutrition? ›
Nutrition.gov serves as a gateway to reliable information on nutrition, healthy eating, physical activity, and food safety for consumers.
Is oatmeal a processed food? ›
Used for oatmeal, rolled oats are lightly processed to make them edible. The oat groats (grain kernels) are steamed, flattened, and dried. They still contain all three parts of the grain—the bran, germ, and endosperm—so they retain all of the fiber and other nutrients.
What is the number one unhealthiest food? ›
1. Processed Meats Like Bacon, Hot Dogs, and Cold Cuts. Processed meats like bologna, ham, and bacon are high in calories and salt and are linked to increased risk of heart disease due to their impact on cholesterol and blood pressure, says Julia Zumpano, RD, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
The United States (U.S.) is the leading country in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption (1), with UPFs accounting for about 60% of total daily caloric intake.
Are Ritz crackers ultra-processed? ›
The same company, Mondelēz International, makes crackers that would be considered ultra-processed, Ritz Original, and ones that aren't ultra-processed, Triscuit Original. Triscuit has three ingredients: whole grain wheat, canola oil and sea salt. Ritz crackers contain the emulsifier soy lecithin and natural flavor.
What is the biggest processed food company? ›
The five largest food and beverage companies in the U.S. and Canada remain PepsiCo., Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Nestle and Kraft Heinz. That's according to our annual reporting of the top food & beverage companies in North America. For an alphabetic list of all the companies, click here.
Is EWG a credible source? ›
The EWG is considered trustworthy insofar as they do good, transparent research on the most important ingredients in public health. There have been claims online by various sources that the EWG tends to slightly overstate the danger of an ingredient, but they do not ever understate danger.
Is EWG Healthy Living legit? ›
The EWG's Healthy Living app was developed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving chemical safety in the US, to provide you with answers. EWG pushes industries to adopt their standards and to say no to harmful chemicals.
Do companies pay to be on EWG? ›
To fund EWG Verified and EWG Reviewed for Science, companies pay a fee to participate. Q: What is the cost of EWG Reviewed for Science? A: The cost depends on the size of the company, the number of products being assessed and the timeline. Our consultancy engagements range from one month to a year in duration.
Where does the EWG get their data? ›
Where did the data in your database come from? EWG requested water contaminant data from public and environmental health agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We then compiled the over 31 million records we received.
This product is not certified organic [read more]