Trader Joes

This product receives a 1/5 green leaf rating, indicating it falls short on our cleaner food options scale. The Trader Joe’s Peppermint Brownies are a non-organic dessert, which includes a range of ingredients that raise concerns in terms of health and environmental impact.

The brownies are made with conventional ingredients, lacking organic certification, and contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These factors lead to deductions in the product’s score, as they do not align with the cleaner, more natural food options we advocate. The presence of added sugars, such as those found in the brownie base and white chocolate chips, contributes to the product’s low rating due to the negative health implications associated with high sugar consumption.

Furthermore, the ingredient list reveals the use of several oils – canola, palm kernel, and palm oil – which are often heavily processed and may come from sources that contribute to deforestation and habitat destruction. The environmental and health concerns surrounding these oils are significant, thus affecting the product’s overall score.

The inclusion of natural flavors is another point of contention. While ‘natural flavors’ may sound harmless, the term is broad and can encompass a variety of substances that are not always transparent to the consumer, calling into question the product’s purity and wholesomeness.

Trader Joe’s Peppermint Brownies also contain enriched flour, which, although fortified with vitamins, is a refined grain that lacks the nutritional benefits of whole grains. This processing strips away essential nutrients that are beneficial for a balanced diet.

The product’s composition, with its non-organic status, GMO ingredients, added sugars, potentially harmful additives, and oils, leads to its low 1/5 green leaf rating. It is advisable for consumers seeking cleaner and healthier food options to consider alternative products that better align with the principles of a wholesome and environmentally friendly diet.