Trader Joes
Flavor:
Pumpkin Bagels
Ingredients:
Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Pumpkin Pie Spice Bits (Cane Sugar, Wheat Flour, Dextrose, Sunflower Oil, Wheat Starch, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Malted Barley Flour), Pumpkin Flour (Pumpkin, Rice Flour), Cane Sugar, Brown Sugar, Contains 2% Or Less Of Wheat Gluten, Yeast, Cultured Wheat Flour (For Freshness), Sea Salt, Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger), Spice Blend (Wheat Flour, Annatto And Turmeric [spice And Color]), Vegetable Monoglycerides (Monoglycerides, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid), Guar Gum, Dough Conditioners (Wheat Flour, Ascorbic Acid, Enzymes), Enriched Farina (Farina, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).
Rating: Not Clean
- 2 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels fall short of the criteria for cleaner food options. This product is not organic, and it does not use non-GMO ingredients, which detracts from its potential as a health-conscious choice. The bagels contain a range of added sugars, including brown sugar, cane sugar, and dextrose, which contribute to the overall negative assessment of their nutritional profile. Furthermore, the presence of potentially harmful additives like enriched flour and vegetable monoglycerides raises concerns about the product’s alignment with a clean eating philosophy.
The ingredient list reveals the use of unbleached enriched flour, a common component in many baked goods, which, while fortified with various vitamins and minerals, is heavily processed. The pumpkin pie spice bits, which might seem appealing for flavor, are primarily composed of cane sugar and wheat flour, adding to the sugar content. Pumpkin flour, made from pumpkin and rice flour, could be a redeeming quality, but it is overshadowed by the other less desirable ingredients.
Moreover, the spices and spice blend, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, along with the natural colorants annatto and turmeric, could have been positive aspects. However, these are diminished by the inclusion of cultured wheat flour and guar gum, which are used as preservatives and stabilizers, respectively. The dough conditioners, consisting of wheat flour, ascorbic acid, and enzymes, are additional processing agents that further distance the product from the clean food ideal.
The Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels, as currently formulated, are a product that does not meet the standards for those seeking cleaner, more wholesome food options. The use of processed ingredients, added sugars, and potential GMOs results in a score that reflects its position as a less desirable choice for health-conscious consumers. The product would benefit from a reformulation that prioritizes organic, non-GMO ingredients, and minimizes additives and sugars, to better align with the values of cleaner eating.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
None
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