Trader Joes

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, Trader Joe’s Sweet Pull Apart Aloha Rolls fall short of the clean eating standards set forth by our website. This product is not organic and contains genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, which immediately impacts its rating negatively. The presence of added sugars, specifically cane sugar, further reduces its score, emphasizing the product’s deviation from healthier options.

The rolls’ ingredient list includes unbleached enriched wheat flour, which, despite its widespread use, is considered less beneficial compared to its whole grain counterparts. This type of flour undergoes processing that strips away natural nutrients, which are then partially added back synthetically. The addition of natural vanilla flavor raises concerns due to its ambiguous nature; the term ‘flavor’ can encompass a variety of chemical compounds, some of which may be undesirable.

Canola oil is another contentious ingredient found within these rolls. Often derived from genetically modified crops, canola oil is processed using high heat and chemical extraction, which may leave trace amounts of harmful substances. The product also contains vital wheat gluten and a dough conditioner comprised of wheat flour and microbial enzymes, which might be seen as unnecessary additives by those striving for a cleaner diet.

Trader Joe’s Sweet Pull Apart Aloha Rolls, with their combination of non-organic ingredients, GMOs, added sugars, enriched flour, ambiguous flavoring, and canola oil, receive the lowest possible score on our scale. The product does not align with the clean food criteria we value, and we recommend consumers seeking healthier alternatives to consider other options that adhere more closely to the principles of natural and organic ingredients.