Are Trader Joe's nutrition labels accurate?
We strive to ensure that all of our Trader Joe's brand products are labeled with reliable, accurate, and easy to read ingredient statements. Trader Joe's strictly adheres to all Federal labeling guidelines.
There are 160 calories in 4 oz (112 g) of Trader Joe's Organic Ground Chicken. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.
Rich in protein and full of zinc, selenium, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12, ground organic chicken is a great, light alternative to other ground meats. Prep and cook a batch of meatballs to have on hand to add to sandwiches, soups, and meze platters with your favorite sauce or dip.
Does Trader Joe's mandarin orange chicken have MSG? No, Trader Joe's orange chicken does not have added monosodium glutamate(MSG).
- Meat and seafood. “It's so much more expensive, and honestly, I think the packages don't have a ton in them,” Greutman says — especially the chicken. ...
- Rice. ...
- Frozen sides. ...
- Vitamins. ...
- Certain cereals and snacks. ...
- Organic milk.
The food labeling regulations from the FDA allow for a 20% margin of error. For anything that says there is a certain amount of carbs, calories, or sugars in it, there could be up to 20% more. Also, some items, such as "artificial flavors" are not included in calculations for the total percentages listed on the label.
Are There Differences Between Organic and Regular Chicken? Overall, the nutritional composition of organic and regular cuts is similar; there are no meaningful differences in the micronutrients (vitamin and minerals) nor protein content between organic and regular cuts of chicken.
While there is no significant nutritional difference between organic and factory-farmed chicken, non-organic chickens who are frequently given antibiotics can develop antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria—plus they're more likely to be infected with salmonella.
Nutritional Information
Serving size: 4oz. (114g) Calories per serving: 120; Cholesterol: 70mg; Fat: 2g; Saturated fat: 0.5g; Sodium: 90mg; Protein: 25g.
Based on nutrition alone, organic chicken isn't worth the money—but it is if you're worried about food poisoning, GMOs, or how the chicken was raised. To make sure any kind of bird is safe to eat: Note whether it's plump—which is good—or dry which is bad. Also, check to make sure it's not close to the "sell by" date.
Is organic chicken better than free range?
The key difference between organic and free-range is that organic is a legislated, regulated, inspected, consistent and licensed accreditation, and the latter is an elastic term that encompasses lots of different farming methods with no standards or governing bodies to ensure its applied consistently.
It is prohibited to give drugs, antibiotics and hormones to organic birds (please note: federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in raising poultry).

In early 2022, Trader Joe's announced they would discontinue their Arrabiata sauce — a fan favorite. Many customers felt disappointed hearing this news, as they could no longer grab the spicy, garlic-forward tomato sauce off the shelves. What is this?
Variety. Both groceries offer a vast range of products, with everything from bacon to exotic superfoods, but Whole Foods has much more brand variety than Trader Joe's. Joe's certainly sells other brands, but much of the store is populated with its own brand.
Chick-Fil-A's grilled chicken has the additive “Yeast Extract”, which contains free glutamic acid, the main component of MSG. This is hidden MSG, disguised by another name. This ingredient is purely used to make you crave their food and eat more than you should.
- Favorite Beverage: Non-Dairy Oat Beverage.
- Favorite Cheese: Unexpected Cheddar.
- Favorite Entrée: Mandarin Orange Chicken.
- Favorite Sweet or Dessert: Hold The Cone! ...
- Favorite Produce: Teeny Tiny Avocados.
- Favorite Snack: Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels.
- Favorite Home, Bath, and Beauty: Scented Candle Tins.
So what is the reason Trader Joe's employees are so nice? The answer seems to be that the company treats its employees well, and so employees want to return the favor to the customers. Lucky us.
The answer? While cashiers aren't trained to flirt with customers, they are encouraged to be amicable. “They do remind you that part of Trader Joe's appeal is its famously friendly atmosphere and ask that you do what you can to maintain that,” Philip, a former Trader Joe's employee, told Glamour.
- Raw fruits.
- Vegetables.
- Fish.
- Dietary Supplements (they are regulated under §101.36)
- Certain egg cartons.
- Infant Formula and foods for children up to 4 yrs of age (modified requirements apply)
Though not an end-all test, a quick way to read the percent daily values is to use the 5/20 rule. This says that if the %DV is less than 5% there is a low amount of this nutrient, while if the %DV is greater than 20% there is a high amount of this nutrient.
What is the 5/15 rule nutrition?
Any listed nutrient that is below five per cent of that value will be termed “a little”. Anything that is more than 15 per cent will be called “a lot”.
Registered dietitians, licensed nutritionists and Extension agents are good sources of reliable information on food and nutrition topics.
Its measurements are accurate to within 5% to 10% for water-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin C) and 10% to 15% for fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin D). Some of these percentages may seem high, but they're all consistent with industry standards and the work of experts in the field.
Nutrition.gov is a USDA-sponsored website that offers credible information to help you make healthful eating choices. It serves as a gateway to reliable information on nutrition, healthy eating, physical activity, and food safety for consumers.