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 lower concern
Ingredient(s) likely derived from antibiotic-treated animals [read more]
One or more ingredients in this product derived from animals likely treated with antibiotics. Many animals are fed low doses of antibiotics throughout their lifespan to speed growth and prevent diseases. These non-essential uses promote antibiotic resistance, posing a serious risk to human health.
Ingredient(s) derived from animals that may have been treated with hormones and/or growth promoters [read more]
This food contains fats derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters.
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 a high level of saturated fat [read more]
Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010). For this reason it has long been known as a "bad" fat that raises the "bad" cholesterol, LDL. Numerous authoritative bodies support the recommendation to limit saturated fat to 10 percent of calories -- equivalent to a reasonable limit of 14 slices of bacon's worth of saturated fat a day (WHO 2002; USDA and DHHS 2010).A 2012 review by the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent non-profit organization, found that reducing or replacing saturated fat with other healthy fats reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 14 percent (Hooper 2012). Other recent reviews have found that there in no evidence of a benefit from reducing saturated fat (Chowdhury 2014; Schwingshackl & Hoffmann 2014). While it's clear that we still have a lot to learn about how fats behave and contribute to disease, the evidence supporting a moderate level of saturated fat consumption remains strong and consistent.
Good source of naturally occurring calcium [read more]
Calcium is necessary for strong bones and decreasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture. Calcium is also important for healthy muscles and nervous system function.
Per gram, high in protein [read more]
Protein is a source of amino acids that are required for the proper growth, maintenance and repair of tissues. It also provides the building blocks for important enzymes and hormones. Protein provides calories and if eaten in excess will be stored as fat. Protein is found in high amounts in beans, nuts, eggs, seafood and meat. Protein is essential to health, but eating too much also carries an environmental and health cost. Learn more: http://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/
This product contains added sugar ingredients: Sugars and Molasses [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).
Product has been classified as having moderate processing concerns
From the Package
SKIM MILK, CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES, ANNATTO COLOR), WATER, CREAM, BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SOYBEAN OIL, 2% OR LESS OF WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE (VINEGAR, MOLASSES, WATER, TAMARIND, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUGAR, SALT, CARAMEL COLOR, ONION, GARLIC), MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SALT, SPICES, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, PAPRIKA, LACTIC ACID, CALCIUM LACTATE.
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.
Should you trust 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 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.
Environmental Working Group has opposed the use of zero carbon nuclear energy and faced criticism for its scientific methods and exaggerations of toxicological risks.
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.
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 ...
Who funds the EWG? ›
EWG is an independent nonprofit organization largely funded by individual donations and grants from charitable foundations.
What site is better than EWG? ›
Top 7 Competitors & Alternatives to ewg.org
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.
Who is the most accurate source of nutrition information? ›
Trustworthy Sources
- US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Information Center. ...
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). ...
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ...
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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.
What are the 5 most processed foods to avoid? ›
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.
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 5/20 rule? ›
% Daily Value (DV) can help you. figure out if a food is HIGH or. LOW in a nutrient, Use the 5-20 Rule. If the % DV is 5 or less then it is low in that nutrient, If the% DV is 20% or more then it is high in that nutrient.
Is EWG a legitimate organization? ›
EWG is an independent nonprofit organization largely funded by individual donations and grants from charitable foundations.
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.
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.
Who runs EWG? ›
EWG co-founder and president Ken Cook explains a short history of the Environmental Working Group and his vision for EWG in the next 20 years.
This product is not certified organic [read more]
Good source of naturally occurring calcium [read more]