Trader Joes
Flavor:
Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe-Joe's
Ingredients:
Sandwich Cookies (Unbleached Enriched Flour [wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Peanut Butter [peanuts, Salt], Powdered Sugar [sugar, Cornstarch], Sugar, Soybean Oil, Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Leavening [baking Soda, Ammonium Bicarbonate], Invert Sugar Syrup, Sea Salt, Organic Soy Lecithin [emulsifier], Organic Palm Oil, Cocoa Extract [water, Organic Alcohol, Cocoa], Natural Flavor, Cocoa Powder, Coffee Powder), Peanut Butter Coating (Sugar, Palm Kernel Oil, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Nonfat Dry Milk, Peanut Oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin [emulsifier]), Drizzle (Sugar, Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali,Whey Powder [milk], Soy Lecithin [emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor).
Rating: We Avoid
- 1 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
This product earns a 1/5 green leaf rating. The Trader Joe’s Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe-Joe’s are sandwich cookies with a blend of chocolate and peanut butter flavors, coated and drizzled with additional peanut butter and chocolate. The product is not organic and includes genetically modified (GMO) ingredients.
The ingredient list reveals the presence of added sugars, such as powdered sugar and invert sugar syrup, contributing to its low score. The cookies also contain multiple ingredients that raise health concerns, including various oils like soybean oil, palm kernel oil, and palm oil. These oils are often scrutinized for their saturated fat content and potential environmental impact due to palm oil production practices.
Furthermore, the product contains natural flavors, which are a point of contention due to their ambiguous nature and potential to harbor unwanted chemicals. The inclusion of enriched flour, soy lecithin, and ammonium bicarbonate as additives further detracts from the product’s overall healthfulness. These ingredients, commonly used in processed foods, are typically added to enhance texture, shelf life, or leavening but are not aligned with a cleaner eating philosophy.
The cookies are also criticized for their use of potentially harmful additives. Enriched flour, although fortified with vitamins, is processed and lacks the nutritional value of whole grains. Soy lecithin and ammonium bicarbonate serve as emulsifiers and leavening agents but are not essential to a natural diet.
Overall, the Trader Joe’s Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe-Joe’s are positioned as a less desirable choice for those seeking cleaner food options. The product’s composition, which includes non-organic ingredients, GMOs, added sugars, and potentially harmful additives and oils, places it at the lowest tier of the rating system. Consumers looking for healthier alternatives would be advised to seek out products with higher green leaf ratings that prioritize organic, non-GMO ingredients, and minimal processing.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
None
How We Rate
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