Is Trader Joe's actually healthier than other grocery stores? We put 12 products to the test.

"Trader Joe's has a reputation as a "healthier" grocery store - fewer additives, quirky private labels, smaller ingredient lists. The store chain says it's committed to using only natural ingredients in its private-label foods, including no artificial dyes, no MSG, and no high-fructose corn syrup. Does that actually translate into meaningfully healthier food? We put that reputation to the test by comparing 12 Trader Joe's own-brand products with similar products from Stop & Shop and the northeast chain Foodtown."

"To craft this head-to-head comparison, we selected similar products, such as vanilla ice cream, sandwich cookies, and frozen pizzas. We did not measure long-term health outcomes or blood biomarkers; instead, we focused on the sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat content of each product. All the products we looked at were ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), meaning foods that are broken down from their fresh or whole form and treated with additives, thickeners, and colors."

"In our head-to-head competition, Trader Joe's slightly edges out competitors across some factors, but not by much. All of these examples are ultraprocessed foods. As a result, most of the product differences were minimal. Often similar in calories, fat, and sugar When comparing similar products, Trader Joe's versions often had similar (or even identical) caloric, sugar, and fat content. In some cases, Trader Joe's had slightly less sodium, such as its Joe-Joe's or Cookie Butter."

Trader Joe's private-label products are known for fewer additives, quirky labels, and smaller ingredient lists. The chain says it uses only natural ingredients in private-label foods, avoiding artificial dyes, MSG, and high-fructose corn syrup. A comparison of 12 Trader Joe's products with similar items from Stop & Shop and Foodtown focused on sodium, added sugar, and saturated fat. All compared items were ultraprocessed foods treated with additives, thickeners, and colors. Nutritional differences across brands were generally minimal, with similar calories, fat, and sugar. Trader Joe's most notable advantage was lower prices compared with competitors.

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