Good & Gather Sea Salt Dry Roasted Peanuts — OKAY

Munch or Dump rates Good & Gather Sea Salt Dry Roasted Peanuts by Good & Gather OKAY — score 58/90.

Underneath, these are just peanuts: high protein, good fats, filling. But the 'dry roasted, sea salt' name hides a 2%-or-less seasoning slurry of sugar, maltodextrin, corn syrup solids and smoked torula yeast (an umami flavor enhancer). That coating keeps it from being a clean nut; it's a solid snack, just not as simple as the front label implies.

Why this verdict

• Peanuts are the dominant ingredient, a whole food delivering about 29 g protein and mostly unsaturated fat per 100 g.
• The 'dry roasted, sea salt' name undersells the coating: sugar, maltodextrin, corn syrup solids and smoked torula yeast (all at 2% or less).
• Torula yeast is a glutamate-style flavor enhancer and maltodextrin plus corn syrup solids are industrial fillers, enough to pull it out of MUNCH territory.
• No artificial colors or preservatives, and the seasoning is a minor fraction, so it's still better than most flavored nuts.

Ingredients (9)

• Peanuts (safe) — Legume packed with protein and healthy fats.
• Sea Salt (moderate) — Sodium source; no nutritional edge over regular salt.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• Corn Starch (moderate) — Refined starch for texture; part of the hyper-palatable structure.
• Maltodextrin (moderate) — Highly processed starch-derived carbohydrate used as a carrier and texturizer; spikes blood sugar readily.
• corn syrup solids (caution) — One of four sweetener sources.
• smoked torula yeast (moderate) — Naturally glutamate-rich umami flavor enhancer.
• Paprika (color) (safe) — Natural coloring, not an artificial dye.
• garlic powder, onion powder, spice (safe) — Standard savory seasonings.