Review of 'Gardein' Barbeque Wings

Gardein -- Barbeque Wings (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: I like that this fries to a crispy outer and juicy inner; the texture is very authentic (like chicken!); although the sauce is a tad bit too sweet for me...I rather enjoyed it naked. You could always use your preferred sauce. This is a pretty good product, but may not be entirely GMO-free (e.g. use of canola oil).

Where to buy: Freshco, Fortinos



Ingredients: water, soy protein isolate*, vital wheat gluten*, expeller pressed/canola oil, organic ancient grain flour (kamut ®, amaranth, millet, quinoa), natural flavor (from plant sources), modified vegetable gum, yeast extract, sea salt, organic cane sugar, potato starch, onion powder, garlic powder, pea protein, vinegar, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, extractives of paprika and turmeric. sauce: crushed tomatoes (tomatoes, salt, citric acid), organic cane sugar, water, dijon mustard (water, mustard flour, white vinegar), blackstrap molasses, malted barley extract, sea salt, spices, vinegar, corn starch, xanthan gum, onion powder, hickory smoke flavor, paprika, garlic powder.

*non-genetically engineered soy and wheat.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 4 wings
Calories: 120
     Calories from fat: 45
Total fat: 5g
     Saturated fat: 0g
     Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 330mg
Total carbohydrates: 5g
     Dietary fiber: 1g
     Sugars: 1g
Protein: 14g
Calcium: 2%
Iron: 10%

The ingredients look fine, save for the canola oil. I am not sure if it is non-genetically modified. The nutritional profile is great, though scant on the fiber. But, add some veggies as a side, and you're good to go. It's low fat, average sodium, and huge on protein. There's also a nice dose of iron.

Brand (quoted from gardein.com):

• The majority of gardein ingredients come from North American farms.
• Uses non-MSG yeast extract to enhance gardein™'s flavor.  
• "...wherever possible, we use the best organic and certified non-GMO ingredients..."
• "...we like to diversify our proteins by using wheat, soy and pea proteins..."
• Contains no preservatives or artificial flavors.  
• "Our soy is grown in the United States and Canada."
• "...our suppliers ensure that all our ingredients do not contain pesticides or herbicides - in line with all federal, state/provincial, and municipal regulations."
• "... we only use 'identity-preserved' soy protein (which basically means, it helps to ensure us that our soy protein is not genetically modified)."