Gardein

Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Teriyaki Chick’n Strips receive a green leaf rating of 1/5 on our cleaner food options scale. This product is a plant-based alternative to chicken strips, aiming to offer a vegetarian option for those seeking meat substitutes. Despite its plant-based nature, the product does not meet our standards for a clean and healthy food option.

The Teriyaki Chick’n Strips are not organic, leading to an immediate deduction in our assessment. Although they do use non-GMO ingredients, the presence of added sugars contributes negatively to the nutritional profile and thus to its score. Among the ingredients, several raise concerns. Specifically, the inclusion of natural flavors and xanthan gum, which we classify as potentially harmful additives, reduces the product’s rating. Moreover, the product contains titanium dioxide, an additive we identify as known harmful, prompting a significant deduction.

Another ingredient of concern is canola oil, which we consider a harmful oil due to its typical processing methods and potential health implications. This ingredient further impacts the overall score of the Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Teriyaki Chick’n Strips.

Based on our evaluation criteria focused on the presence of organic ingredients, avoidance of GMOs, added sugars, and harmful additives or oils, the Teriyaki Chick’n Strips fall short of offering a clean and healthy food alternative. Consumers seeking cleaner food options may wish to consider alternatives that align more closely with these criteria.

The low green leaf rating reflects our rigorous standards for clean eating and the importance of transparency in food labeling. Shoppers looking for healthier, cleaner food options are advised to explore other products that boast a higher green leaf rating and thus a composition that is more in line with our health-conscious guidelines.