The MadeGood Verdict: Are These Allergen Friendly Snacks Actually Healthy?

The Facts

MadeGood is committed to fostering community, inclusion and belonging through their product. They are also committed to conservation and sustainability practices to protect our planet. They follow rigorous processes to ensure all of their products are free from "the top 9 allergens." This gives any consumer concerned about allergen exposure, either to themselves or to people in their community, peace of mind that these snacks are safe. This requires dedicated manufacturing facilities that are free from the top 9 allergens. It also means they track ingredients, like oats, from seed to store, confirming there is no cross contamination at any point in the supply chain.

On the conservation side, they also implement strict policies to maintain USDA Organic certification. This means building close relationships with ingredient suppliers and maintaining strict compliance with the requirements of the certification. You can be confident that synthetic pesticides are not used to treat any ingredients in a MadeGood product. Additionally, they are zero-waste and plastic neutrality certified, and they are a certified B-Corp, which is an independent third party that holds companies accountable to high social, environmental and economic values.

When you scroll through their FAQs, you notice that they are particularly focused on reducing exposures to unnatural or otherwise unwanted ingredients, chemicals or substances. They also provide the rationale for the use of ingredients like oils or corn. They clearly value transparency and emphasize the quality sourcing of their ingredients.

They do suggest that the inclusion of their "vegetable extracts" allows their products to "offer the nutrients of vegetables without the veggie taste." I am sure this is true, but the impact of this statement will be discussed below.

It is important to note that they do not directly make any claims (that I am aware of) that would indicate their products are "healthy" or that they are a healthier alternative to other products on the market (i.e. reducing disease risk or promoting positive outcomes).

The Good

They talk the talk and they walk the walk. They are a company with sound principles and a virtuous mission. They are active in efforts that support the conservation of the planet and its resources, they contribute to communities and they genuinely seem to want what is best for their customers and for the environment.

If minimizing allergen exposure is important to you and your community, MadeGood products are certainly about as good of a choice as you can make. Their procedural rigor and transparency are admirable and leave the consumer feeling confident in the quality of their product. The same can be said for anyone prioritizing organic products or products sourced from high-quality, traceable roots. This is all not to mention that I have purchased and tasted many of their products, and there is not one that I wouldn't recommend based on taste alone. They are delicious.

The vegetable extracts are interesting, but are they really moving the needle? Probably not. If you are concerned about vitamin deficiencies in your children who are not consuming vegetables, you would be better served to work on getting them whole vegetables, and if that doesn't work, using a multivitamin. That said, there is nothing wrong with the extracts and they are certainly cool ingredients to see on the label!

The Nuance

Are MadeGood products actually healthier alternatives to more globally recognized brands? That is a bit murkier. There is no doubt that the ingredients are sourced sustainably and they avoid the unnatural additives or ultra-processed ingredients like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Metabolically, HFCS and sugar, or any refined carbohydrate for that matter, are handled virtually the same way. So, there is no special benefit to eating a MadeGood product that would make its glucose hit any less significant than another product with the same macronutrient components. They use added sugars, and they use dates and other dried fruits as sweeteners. All of these things contribute to the glycemic load and are not more or less healthy from a metabolic standpoint.

Additionally, the overwhelming number of certifications that show up on the package can be misleading. Not that this is done intentionally, but a consumer sees all of these icons and badges on the label and they might think they are purchasing a product that is healthier than it really is. Vegan, gluten-free and organic are the holy trinity for health food marketing, and MadeGood has each box checked!

The Verdict

If you are looking for snacks for your children that are allergy friendly because they will be sharing meals with friends with allergies, this is a no-brainer choice. Similarly, if you are environmentally conscious or seriously concerned about conventional (meaning not organic) food ingredients and exposures to unnatural ingredients, MadeGood is a clear winner.

Just remember that labeling MadeGood as a "healthy" food depends heavily on your health philosophy. If you value natural ingredients and reduced exposure to synthetic pesticides, then sure, MadeGood is a "healthy" brand. If you are concerned about your child's metabolic health and body habitus, MadeGood is awfully high in carbohydrates and is likely not the best choice of snack.