Healthy Food Guide by KarbCoach

365 Meatless Plant-Based Ground: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-10-17 · 365

Quick answer

Lower integrity

365 meatless plant-based ground received a Food Integrity Score of 52 out of 100 (lower integrity). This reflects highly processed and moderate additive load. This is a protein-engineered meat alternative, with peas, onion, garlic, and pepper sitting behind a stack of isolates, binders, flavor systems, and preservation helpers. The protein content is solid, but the ingredient list reads more like a food-engineering project than a simple recipe. Treat it as an occasional convenience item rather than an everyday staple. Main considerations include methylcellulose and cultured dextrose as formulation helpers, refined canola oil and isolated pea proteins, and vague natural flavors system. Simpler options: Choose a shorter ingredient list with whole legumes or tofu; look for products without methylcellulose or undisclosed natural flavors.

Food Integrity Score 52/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Highly processed
  • Moderate additive load
  • Transparency: High

What to watch?

  • Methylcellulose and cultured dextrose as formulation helpers
  • Refined canola oil and isolated pea proteins
  • Vague natural flavors system

Simpler options to consider

  • Choose a shorter ingredient list with whole legumes or tofu
  • Look for products without methylcellulose or undisclosed natural flavors

You are viewing ingredients and processing. Switch to Longevity for nutrition and longer-term eating pattern fit.

Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
365 Meatless Plant-Based Ground
Brand
365
Category
Meat & Poultry (source: Other Meats)
GTIN / UPC
00099482490430
Serving size
113 g (4 oz)
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Healthy Food Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Meatless Plant-Based Ground

365

Lower integrity

Warning Signs

Methylcellulose, pea protein isolate, and canola oil make this a rebuilt, texture-engineered formula rather than a simple food.

Consider This

Textured pea concentrate, natural flavors, and cultured dextrose are typical of factory-formulated plant-based meat analogs.

Good Substitutes

Try plain lentils, black beans, or crumbled tofu with onion, garlic, and pepper for a simpler ground-style base.

Overall Assessment

Lower integrity

This is a protein-engineered meat alternative, with peas, onion, garlic, and pepper sitting behind a stack of isolates, binders, flavor systems, and preservation helpers. The protein content is solid, but the ingredient list reads more like a food-engineering project than a simple recipe. Treat it as an occasional convenience item rather than an everyday staple.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Methylcellulose and cultured dextrose as formulation helpers
  • Refined canola oil and isolated pea proteins
  • Vague natural flavors system

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • Natural Flavors — Vague flavor system with undisclosed components
  • Methylcellulose — Synthetic binder
  • Expeller Pressed Canola Oil — Refined seed oil
  • Cultured Dextrose — Preservative-type ingredient

Highest concern ingredients

  • Methylcellulose (7/10) — Synthetic binder with texture-engineering role
  • Natural Flavors (7/10) — Vague flavor system
  • Pea Protein Isolate (6/10) — Isolated protein formulation input

Better choice tips

  • Choose a shorter ingredient list with whole legumes or tofu.
  • Look for products without methylcellulose or undisclosed natural flavors.

Ingredients

Ingredient list

WATER, TEXTURED PEA CONCENTRATE (PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE, PEA CONCENTRATE, PEA FIBER), EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, METHYLCELLULOSE, CITRUS FIBER, CULTURED DEXTROSE, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR (APPLE, RED BEET), BLACK PEPPER, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER.

Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.

Highest-concern ingredients first. Expand an item for notes.

  1. Natural FlavorsConcern 7/10 — Higher concernVague ingredientWatchlist · Additive · Vague label term

    What this is

    Vague ingredient

    Processing category

    Unknown / not listed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Undisclosed flavor systems hide specific components.

    Additional note

    Vague flavor system with undisclosed components.

  2. MethylcelluloseConcern 7/10 — Higher concernBinderWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Binder

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Methylcellulose is a synthetic binder that helps hold texture.

    Additional note

    Synthetic cellulose derivative used as a binder.

    Family watchlist

    Synthetic binder often flagged in additive-heavy foods.

  3. Pea Protein IsolateConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernIsolated protein

    What this is

    Isolated protein

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Isolated protein is a formulation-oriented, refined input.

    Additional note

    Isolated protein fraction added to boost protein content.

  4. Cultured DextroseConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernPreservativeWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Preservative

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Preservative-type ingredients signal shelf-life engineering.

    Additional note

    Fermentation-derived preservative used for shelf life.

    Family watchlist

    Preservative-type ingredient flagged for shelf-life engineering.

View all 12 ingredient assessments
  1. Textured Pea Concentrate (Pea Protein Isolate, Pea Concentrate, Pea Fiber)Concern 5/10 — Moderate concernIsolated protein

    What this is

    Isolated protein

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Isolated and texturized pea fractions signal engineered structure.

    Additional note

    Extruded, isolated pea fractions rebuilt into a meat-like texture.

  2. Expeller Pressed Canola OilConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernRefined oilWatchlist

    What this is

    Refined oil

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Refined seed oils are a common family watchlist item.

    Additional note

    Refined seed oil used for fat content.

    Family watchlist

    Refined seed oil commonly flagged by families.

  3. Citrus FiberConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernIsolated fiberAdditive

    What this is

    Isolated fiber

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Isolated fiber is added for texture rather than whole-food structure.

    Additional note

    Isolated fiber used for texture and water binding.

  4. Fruit and Vegetable Juice for Color (Apple, Red Beet)Concern 5/10 — Moderate concernColor additiveAdditive

    What this is

    Color additive

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Added for color, signaling appearance-driven formulation.

    Additional note

    Juice concentrate added mainly for color.

  5. Onion PowderConcern 1/10 — Very low concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Dried onion is a normal, recognizable flavor ingredient.

    Additional note

    Dried onion, a normal category-processed ingredient.

  6. Garlic PowderConcern 1/10 — Very low concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Dried garlic is a normal, recognizable flavor ingredient.

    Additional note

    Dried garlic, a normal category-processed ingredient.

  7. WaterConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Water is a neutral base ingredient.

    Additional note

    Simple base ingredient with no concern.

  8. Black PepperConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Recognizable spice with a normal culinary role.

    Additional note

    Simple spice with no meaningful concern.

This Food Integrity score estimates how close a food appears to a simple, recognizable ingredient profile. It is not a medical safety rating. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

How this product may fit different goals

The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.

  • GLP-1 Eating Support

    Supportive

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Protein ingredients (Mentions "protein isolate", "pea protein". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Appetite & Portion Awareness

    Supportive

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Protein ingredients (Mentions "protein isolate", "pea protein". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Workout Recovery

    Supportive

    Athletic Performance

    For someone prioritizing Workout Recovery, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Protein ingredients (Mentions "protein isolate", "pea protein". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Strength & Protein Focus

    Supportive

    Athletic Performance

    For someone prioritizing Strength & Protein Focus, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Protein ingredients (Mentions "protein isolate", "pea protein". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Vegetarian

    Supportive

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegetarian, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Plant-food ingredients (Mentions "pepper", "pea protein". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Vegan

    Supportive

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegan, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Plant-food ingredients (Mentions "pepper", "pea protein". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

See how this product fits your goals

Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.

Personalize this analysis

Understanding the Food Integrity analysis

What the Food Integrity analysis evaluates

The Food Integrity analysis focuses on how a packaged food is formulated and made. It examines processing level, ingredient quality, additives, oils, sweeteners, purity cues, and how clearly a label communicates what is in the product. The Food Integrity Score summarizes that formulation and transparency picture on a 0–100 scale. It is not a full nutrient report and it is not a personalized meal plan.

Why processing, ingredients, and transparency matter

Processing level and ingredient quality shape what you are actually eating beyond calories on the label. Additives, industrial oils, and intense sweeteners can change how clean or heavily engineered a product feels, even when the front of pack looks wholesome. Purity and transparency matter because incomplete or marketing-heavy labeling can hide tradeoffs that only show up when the full ingredient list is reviewed carefully.

Who may prioritize Food Integrity

Some people care mainly about Food Integrity because their dietary goals center on formulation rather than macros alone. Examples include checking vegetarian or vegan suitability, preferring simpler ingredient sources, avoiding certain additives or sweeteners, watching oil choices, or preferring less processed options. For those priorities, the Food Integrity Score can be the more practical first read.

How Food Integrity differs from Longevity

Food Integrity is the focused analysis of processing, ingredients, additives, purity, and transparency. Longevity is the broader analysis of nutritional composition, metabolic and dietary characteristics, processing, and ingredient quality together. Favorable nutrition values do not necessarily mean strong Food Integrity: a product can look balanced on macros yet still rely on heavy processing or additives that the Food Integrity analysis flags in more detail.

Why the two analyses overlap—and why to review Longevity too

The analyses overlap intentionally. Food Integrity–related characteristics contribute to Longevity, and Longevity still benefits from the same ingredient-quality lens. They are not competing verdicts; they answer different questions at different depths. Reviewing the Longevity analysis can add information about nutritional composition, metabolic characteristics, and dietary balance that Food Integrity alone does not emphasize. Looking at both usually gives the most complete understanding of tradeoffs.

Common questions about this product

Is 365 Meatless Plant-Based Ground highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Highly processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.

Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?

Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.

How much fiber is in one serving?

365 Meatless Plant-Based Ground shows about 1.02g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

365 Meatless Plant-Based Ground: 0g added sugar per serving. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Good protein per serving (about 20g); Zero added sugar; Plant-based protein source.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: Ultra-processed protein isolates and textured concentrates; Canola oil and methylcellulose/citrus fiber additives; Sodium around 350mg per serving, moderate.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same meat & poultry differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.

Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
  3. How the Longevity Score is calculated
  4. How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
  5. Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
  6. Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
  7. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information

Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

Sources, citations & safety

See how this item lines up with your goals

Healthy Food Guide covers this product in detail. In KarbCoach, your goals shape what matters most for your meals.