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 9 of EWG's top food additives of concern: RED 40, RED 40 LAKE, FD&C BLUE #2, BLUE 2 LAKE, BLUE 1, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, and YELLOW 6 LAKE
Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Palm Oil [read more]
Both refined oils and fully hydrogenated oils contain small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats and contribute to the total intake of trans fat in the diet (Biofortis 2014). Artificial trans fats are generated in refined oils when they are processed at high temperatures from the crude oil into a bland, odorless, colorless oil (Greyt 1999). A 2012 study conducted by FDA scientists estimated that refined oil contributes an average 0.6 grams of trans fat a day (Doell 2012). The World Health Organization recommends limits on trans fat of less than 1 to 2 grams a day—in this context, it’s easy to see that 0.6 grams is not an insignificant contribution. In the case of fully hydrogenated oils, they should theoretically be free of trans fat, but since no hydrogenation process is 100 percent efficient, trans fats are often found in fully hydrogenated oils at low levels (FDA 2013). The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrition Database has tested refined, partially hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated oils and found trans fats in all of them (USDA 2013).Textbooks for food scientists reveal that the mono and di-glycerides and other emulsifiers are often made from hydrogenated fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008) and at temperatures above 220°C (Sikorski and Kolakowka 2011). Emulsifiers produced from hydrogenated fats “contain measurable concentrations" of trans fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008).Unfortunately, due to lack of label disclosure and the trans fat labeling loophole, only the food scientists will ever know just how much trans fat these refined oils and emulsifiers are contributing to foods and the American diet.
EWG calculates that this product is 24% sugar by weight and contains 6 teaspoons of added and natural sugar per serving [read more]
Eating too much of any type of sugar can lead to tooth decay. Added sugars like high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar and dextrose are more concerning than natural sugars like raisins because they can lead to obesity by adding calories without being accompanied by important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C or fiber. Americans average 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day (NCI 2010; USDA and DHHS 2010). The World Health Organization recommends no more than 6 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar a day for adults, children should eat even less (WHO 2002; WHO 2014).
Contains synthetic food dyes [read more]
Health concerns about the use of dyes in children's food has a led to a reduction in usage but these colorants are still common.
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.
Product has been classified as having moderate processing concerns
Includes ingredient(s) derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and/or growth promoters: Milk (Fat Free) [read more]
This food contains ingredient(s) from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters.
From the Package
MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, COCOA BUTTER, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, PEANUTS, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR), PEANUTS, SUGAR, CORNSTARCH; LESS THAN 1% OF: PALM OIL, CORN SYRUP, DEXTRIN, COLORS (INCLUDES RED 40, YELLOW 6, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, BLUE 2), CARNAUBA WAX, GUM ACACIA.
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.
How to check if food is healthy? ›
Next time you're trying to figure out some quick ways to determine if your food is nutritious, pay attention to these 11 factors.
- 1) Read the ingredient list. ...
- 2) Look at how long the ingredient list is. ...
- 3) Pay attention to types of fats. ...
- 4) Look for "100%" ...
- 5) Consider convenience. ...
- 6) Look at the expiration date.
EWG's scientists base scores on weighted counts for nutrition, ingredient and processing concerns. Generally, nutrition counts most, ingredient concerns next and degree of processing least.
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? ›
Web Sites for Reliable Health and Nutrition Information
- www.eatright.org. ...
- http://www.choosemyplate.gov. ...
- http://www.fda.gov/food/default.htm. ...
- http://www.nutrition.gov. ...
- http://www.usda.gov/cnpp. ...
- www.cspinet.org. ...
- www.consumerlab.com. ...
- www.myfitnesspal.com.
Here is a short list of some unhealthy processed foods to avoid:
- Sugary beverages such as sweetened coffee and tea, energy drinks and soft drinks.
- Deli meats, hot dogs and sausages.
- Frozen pizza and frozen meals.
- Packaged snacks such as chips, cookies, crackers and baked goods.
- Most breakfast cereals.
- Canned or instant soups.
Some types of coffee are more processed than others i.e filter coffee vs. instant coffee. Also there are many coffee products available commercially in supermarkets (such as iced coffee) and also many cafes, which have added syrups, sugars and other ingredients that have been processed.
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 site is better than EWG? ›
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The closest competitor to ewg.org are heb.com, incidecoder.com and skinsafeproducts.com. To understand more about ewg.org and its competitors, sign up for a free account to explore Semrush's Traffic Analytics and Market Explorer tools.
What do dermatologists think of EWG? ›
Zoe Draelos, a consulting professor at the Duke University School of Medicine and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology, who also tests sunscreen products in her laboratory, applauds the EWG for looking at the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens, but feels the group is making unfair “sweeping ...
Do companies pay for EWG ratings? ›
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.
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.
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]