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Hot Pockets Hickory Ham & Cheddar, Crispy Buttery Crust

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Score Lower scores accompany better foods.
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Image source: Kwikee
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Lower scores accompany better foods.
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Label for Hot Pockets Hickory Ham & Cheddar, Crispy Buttery Crust captured by LabelINSIGHT on May 27, 2020 Tell us if the product name is misspelled.

EWG Overall Score Breakdown

The product score is based on weighted scores for nutrition, ingredient and processing concerns. Generally, nutrition counts most, ingredient concerns next and degree of processing least. The weighted scores are added together to determine the final score. Read more about scores here.

EWG Overall Score Breakdown


EWG scored on three factors: nutrition, ingredient concerns, and the degree of processing. Read the full scoring methodology.

Score
Lower concern
Higher concern
Lower concern
Higher concern
1
10

Read our full methodology

Nutrition Concern Details

Level

Considers calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, sodium, protein, fiber and fruit, vegetable and nut content to differentiate between healthful and less healthful foods. For more information on nutrition concerns, read our full methodology.

Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Palm Oil, Triglycerides, and Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids [read more]

Contains 43% of the Institute of Medicine's daily sodium (salt) recommendations based on adequate intake [read more]

Good source of naturally occurring calcium [read more]

This product contains added sugar ingredients: Corn Syrup Solids, Sugars, and Dextrose [read more]

The nutrition factors used for scoring Hot Pockets Hickory Ham & Cheddar, Crispy Buttery Crust
Positive factors
Fruit, vegetable, bean or nut content
Protein content
Fiber content
Omega-3 fatty acids
Negative factors
Calorie density
Sugar/low-calorie sweetener content
Sodium content
Saturated fat content
Trans fat content

Ingredient Concern Details

Level

Considers food additives, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and contaminants like mercury and BPA, which can affect human health and the environment. For more information on ingredient concerns, read methodology.

This product is not certified organic [read more]

Contains 1 of EWG's top food additives of concern: Sodium Nitrite

Ingredient(s) likely derived from antibiotic-treated animals [read more]

Ingredient(s) derived from animals that may have been treated with hormones and/or growth promoters [read more]

Contains 1 ingredient(s) associated with cancer: Sodium Nitrite

This product has 12 ingredients with concerns:

Processing Concern Details

Level

Estimates how much the food has been processed. Considers many factors, chief among them, modification of individual ingredients from whole foods and number of artificial ingredients. For more information on processing concerns, read our full methodology.

Product has been classified as having high processing concerns

Products with moderate and high processing concerns generally have more artificial ingredients, more ingredients that have been significantly modified from whole foods, and more ingredients overall.

EWG's Top Findings

This product is not certified organic [read more]

This product is not certified organic

Products bearing the USDA certified organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredient, and must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and free of genetically engineered ingredients.

Contains food additives of higher concern

Contains 1 of EWG's top food additives of concern: Sodium Nitrite

Ingredient(s) likely derived from antibiotic-treated animals [read more]

Ingredient(s) likely derived from antibiotic-tr...

One or more ingredients in this product derived from animals likely treated with antibiotics. Many animals are fed low doses of antibiotics throughout their lifespan to speed growth and prevent diseases. These non-essential uses promote antibiotic resistance, posing a serious risk to human health.

Ingredient(s) derived from animals that may have been treated with hormones and/or growth promoters [read more]

Ingredient(s) derived from animals that may hav...

This food contains fats derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters.

Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Palm Oil, Triglycerides, and Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids [read more]

Contains ingredients that may contribute small ...

Both refined oils and fully hydrogenated oils contain small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats and contribute to the total intake of trans fat in the diet (Biofortis 2014). Artificial trans fats are generated in refined oils when they are processed at high temperatures from the crude oil into a bland, odorless, colorless oil (Greyt 1999). A 2012 study conducted by FDA scientists estimated that refined oil contributes an average 0.6 grams of trans fat a day (Doell 2012). The World Health Organization recommends limits on trans fat of less than 1 to 2 grams a day—in this context, it’s easy to see that 0.6 grams is not an insignificant contribution. In the case of fully hydrogenated oils, they should theoretically be free of trans fat, but since no hydrogenation process is 100 percent efficient, trans fats are often found in fully hydrogenated oils at low levels (FDA 2013). The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrition Database has tested refined, partially hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated oils and found trans fats in all of them (USDA 2013). Textbooks for food scientists reveal that the mono and di-glycerides and other emulsifiers are often made from hydrogenated fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008) and at temperatures above 220°C (Sikorski and Kolakowka 2011). Emulsifiers produced from hydrogenated fats “contain measurable concentrations" of trans fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008). Unfortunately, due to lack of label disclosure and the trans fat labeling loophole, only the food scientists will ever know just how much trans fat these refined oils and emulsifiers are contributing to foods and the American diet.

Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor" [read more]

Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor"

Added "flavors" are secret and often complex mixtures of chemicals that modify and manipulate the taste and smell of food. The lack of disclosure is a public right to know issue and especially concerning to people with unusual food allergies or on restricted diets.

Contains 43% of the Institute of Medicine's daily sodium (salt) recommendations based on adequate intake [read more]

Contains 43% of the Institute of Medicine's dai...

This product contains a high percentage of the Institute of Medicine's recommended adequate intake for sodium of 1500 mg a day (IOM 2005). This value is much lower than what the FDA requires be listed on food labels -- 2400 mg. Americans average 3,400 mg of sodium a day. Most of this sodium comes from processed foods where sodium is added to mask the lack of freshness by enhancing the flavor, texture or palatability and extending shelf-life (IOM 2010). Many of these uses are for the manufacturers benefit and not the consumer's health as excess sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease (IOM 2010).

Contains 1 ingredient(s) associated with cancer: Sodium Nitrite

Good source of naturally occurring calcium [read more]

Good source of naturally occurring calcium

Calcium is necessary for strong bones and decreasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture. Calcium is also important for healthy muscles and nervous system function.

This product contains added sugar ingredients: Corn Syrup Solids, Sugars, and Dextrose [read more]

This product contains added sugar ingredients: ...

Eating too much of any type of sugar can lead to tooth decay. Added sugars like high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar and dextrose are more concerning than natural sugars like raisins because they can lead to obesity by adding calories without being accompanied by important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C or fiber. Americans average 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day (NCI 2010; USDA and DHHS 2010). The World Health Organization recommends no more than 6 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar a day for adults, children should eat even less (WHO 2002; WHO 2014).

Product has been classified as having high processing concerns

EWG Food Reports

Natural vs. Artificial Flavors

EWG's Good Food On A Tight Budget

EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide to Avoiding GE Food

Why GE Foods are not "Natural"

EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce

Ingredient List

From the Package

WATER, ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), FULLY COOKED HAM AND WATER PRODUCT, 25% OF WEIGHT IS ADDED INGREDIENTS, GROUND AND FORMED, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR ADDED (CURED WITH WATER, SUGAR, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, DEHYDRATED PORK BROTH, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CARRAGEENAN, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE), REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART SKIM MILK, SKIM MILK, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH*, CULTURES, SALT, FLAVORS*, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE*, ANNATTO, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, ENZYMES. *INGREDIENTS NOT IN REGULAR CHEDDAR CHEESE), 2% OR LESS OF MARGARINE (PALM OIL, WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, MONO & DIGLYCERIDES, SOYBEAN LECITHIN, POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CITRIC ACID (PRESERVATIVES), ANNATTO AND TURMERIC COLOR, VITAMIN A PALMITATE ADDED), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SEASONING (BREAD CRUMBS [BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, DEXTROSE, YEAST, SALT], SEASONING (CHEDDAR AND BLUE CHEESES {MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES}, WHEY, SALT, DEXTROSE, DRIED ONION, NATURAL FLAVOR, SOYBEAN OIL, GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, SPICE, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA AND ANNATTO]), SUGAR, PALM OIL, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, SOYBEAN OIL, FRACTIONATED PALM OIL, WHEY, DOUGH CONDITIONER BLEND (CALCIUM SULFATE, SALT, L-CYSTEINE HYDROCHLORIDE, GARLIC POWDER, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, ENZYMES [WHEAT]), CREAMER (COCONUT OIL, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, SODIUM CASEINATE [MILK], MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SOY LECITHIN), BUTTERMILK POWDER, YEAST, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID), SEASONING (FLAVORING, CHEDDAR CHEESE [CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], WHEY, MALTODEXTRIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, BUTTERMILK FAT, ENZYME MODIFIED YEAST EXTRACTIVES, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SALT, GARLIC POWDER, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, CITRIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, MIXED TRIGLYCERIDES, ONION POWDER), BLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, AMYLASE, ASCORBIC ACID, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SOY LECITHIN, SEASONING (MALTODEXTRIN, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BUTTER FLAVOR), ANNATTO COLOR, SEASONING (CORNSTARCH, EXTRACTIVES OF TURMERIC AND ANNATTO, NATURAL FLAVOR), LACTIC ACID BLEND (LACTIC ACID, CALCIUM LACTATE), METHYLCELLULOSE, SOY FLOUR, DRIED EGG WHITES.

*Older Product

Products remain in the database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores. A product with label information last recorded more than a year ago is marked with an * identifying it as an older product.

*Discontinued Product

Products remain in the Database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores, even when they have been discontinued (products may remain in stores and pantries long past the date they cease to be manufactured). EWG marks a product it is aware has been discontinued with a banner identifying it as such.

Product Images

Please note that EWG obtains the displayed images of products from third parties and that the product's manufacturer or packager may change the product's packaging at any point in time. Therefore, EWG assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of images presented.

Other Information

This product contains the following ingredient(s) that may be genetically engineered or derived from GE crops: Corn Starch, Corn Syrup Solids, Sugars, Dextrose, Soy Flour, Maltodextrin, Modified Food Starch, Modified Starch (Corn), Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids, Lecithin (Soy), Lactic Acid, and Citric Acid [read more]

This product contains the following ingredient(...

Scientists have not determined whether GE food poses risks to human health. Still, consumers have many good reasons to avoid eating genetically engineered ingredients, including limited safety studies, the development of "superweeds" and increased pesticide use. For more information on the topic visit: http://www.ewg.org/research/shoppers-guide-to-avoiding-ge-food Note: The presence or absence of genetically engineered ingredients or ingredients derived from GE crops does not affect a product's overall score.

Environmental Impact: Contains eggs, which have a lower carbon footprint than meat.

Contains ingredients derived from milk, wheat, soybean or tree nut - these are considered major food allergens according to the FDA [read more]

Contains ingredients derived from milk, wheat, ...

While over 160 food ingredients may cause allergic reactions current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations stipulate that 8 major food allergens must be labeled on products. These allergens include; milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Note: The presence of potential allergens does not affect the overall product score.

Nutrition Facts

17.0 servings per container

Serving Size

1 Sandwich

Amount Per 127 g
Calories
270
% Daily Value (based on a 2,000 calorie diet and adult bodyweight)
Update the values for someone:

QUICK FACTS:

14.0 14.0 % Total Fat 9 g
13.0 13.0 % Total Carbs 39 g
Sugars 3 g
10.0 10.0 % Protein 9 g

AVOID TOO MUCH:

23.0 23.0 % Saturated Fat 4 g
Trans Fat 0.0g
5.0 5.0 % Cholesterol 15 mg
27.0 27.0 % Sodium 640 mg
Added Sugar Ingredients: Corn Syrup Solids, Sugars, and Dextrose

NUTRIENTS:

4.0 4.0 % Dietary Fiber 1 g
Vitamin D (no value on present label)
3.0 3.0 % Vitamin A
0.0 0.0 % Vitamin C
15.0 15.0 % Calcium
10.0 10.0 % Iron
Potassium (no value on present label)

† Institute of Medicine. 2010. "Dietary Reference Intakes Tables and Application." Accessed April 8, 2014: link

 

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