Food Quality Guide by KarbCoach

Great Value Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans Dried Salad Topper, Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-08-22 · Great Value

Quick answer

Mixed integrity

Great Value sweetened cranberries & candied pecans dried salad topper, sweetened cranberries & candied pecans received a Food Integrity Score of 65 out of 100 (mixed integrity). This reflects moderately processed and moderate additive load. This product is a step into the processed snack realm, with several ingredients involved in formulation and preservation. While the cranberries and pecans are generally considered wholesome, the addition of glycerin, caramel color, and soy lecithin could suggest more industrial processing. It's suitable for an occasional treat, but homemade-style options would be a cleaner choice for regular consumption. Main considerations include additive load and processing. Simpler options: Choose plain dried cranberries; opt for raw nuts without coatings.

Food Integrity Score 65/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Moderately processed
  • Moderate additive load
  • Transparency: High

What to watch?

  • Additive load
  • Processing

Simpler options to consider

  • Choose plain dried cranberries
  • Opt for raw nuts without coatings

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

Source data, GTIN, and Food Quality Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Great Value Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans Dried Salad Topper, Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans
Category
Prepared Meals (source: Salad Dressing & Mayonnaise)
GTIN / UPC
00078742194936
Serving size
9 GRM (1 Tbsp)
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Food Quality Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans Dried Salad Topper, Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans

Great Value

Mixed integrity

Warning Signs

Glycerin and caramel color may be worth a closer look as processed additives.

Consider This

The use of soy lecithin and refined oils suggest industrial processing.

Good Substitutes

Opt for plain dried cranberries and roasted nuts for a simpler snack.

Overall Assessment

Mixed integrity

This product is a step into the processed snack realm, with several ingredients involved in formulation and preservation. While the cranberries and pecans are generally considered wholesome, the addition of glycerin, caramel color, and soy lecithin could suggest more industrial processing. It's suitable for an occasional treat, but homemade-style options would be a cleaner choice for regular consumption.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Additive load
  • Processing

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • DRIED SWEETENED CRANBERRIES (CRANBERRIES, SUGAR, GLYCERIN, SUNFLOWER OIL) — Contains refined oils and glycerin.
  • CANDIED PECANS (SUGAR, PECANS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], VEGETABLE OIL [PEANUT OIL AND/OR COTTONSEED OIL], CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN). — Contains caramel color and lecithin.

Highest concern ingredients

  • CANDIED PECANS (SUGAR, PECANS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], VEGETABLE OIL [PEANUT OIL AND/OR COTTONSEED OIL], CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN). (6/10) — Processed additives and oils

Better choice tips

  • Choose plain dried cranberries.
  • Opt for raw nuts without coatings.

Ingredients

Ingredient list

DRIED SWEETENED CRANBERRIES (CRANBERRIES, SUGAR, GLYCERIN, SUNFLOWER OIL), CANDIED PECANS (SUGAR, PECANS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], VEGETABLE OIL [PEANUT OIL AND/OR COTTONSEED OIL], CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN).,

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

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

  1. CANDIED PECANS (SUGAR, PECANS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 1% OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, BUTTER [CREAM, SALT], VEGETABLE OIL [PEANUT OIL AND/OR COTTONSEED OIL], CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN).Concern 6/10 — Moderate concernCandied nutsWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Candied nuts

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Includes caramel color and soy lecithin.

    Additional note

    Has caramel color and soy lecithin.

    Family watchlist

    Contains caramel color and lecithin.

  2. DRIED SWEETENED CRANBERRIES (CRANBERRIES, SUGAR, GLYCERIN, SUNFLOWER OIL)Concern 5/10 — Moderate concernSweetened fruitWatchlist

    What this is

    Sweetened fruit

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Included processed additives.

    Additional note

    Contains glycerin and sunflower oil.

    Family watchlist

    Contains refined oils and glycerin.

The Food Integrity Score estimates product simplicity and recognizability. 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.

  • Low-Spike Stability

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • GLP-1 Eating Support

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "sugar". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Low Sugar Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Appetite & Portion Awareness

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "sugar". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Vegan

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegan, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "butter", "cream". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Plant-Based

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Plant-Based, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "butter", "cream". 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 Great Value Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans Dried Salad Topper, Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Moderately 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?

Great Value Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans Dried Salad Topper, Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Great Value Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans Dried Salad Topper, Sweetened Cranberries & Candied Pecans: 5g total sugar per serving; sweetener signals include sugar. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Contains nuts for some nutrients; Moderate calories per serving.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: Very high added sugar; Ultra-processed ingredients.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

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

Source data and Food Quality Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Food Quality 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

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