Factor, also known as "Factor 75," is one of the most popular meal delivery services in the US, and the brand markets itself as a healthy option. Factor customers choose between 30 “dietitian-designed” meals every week, and Factor describes their service as “Healthy Eating, Made Easy.”
But are Factor meals really healthier than cheaper alternatives like EveryPlate? Does Factor use any unhealthy ingredients? Is the sodium content a health concern? And why do we take issue with some of the packaging?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Factor meals to give our take on whether or not the brand is healthy.
We'll also share our concerns about the packaging, discuss the sodium content, and compare Factor to other popular meal delivery services in terms of price and healthiness to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Some meals contain a number of additives we consider unhealthy
- Plastic packaging may leach harmful plasticizing chemicals
- We do not currently recommend Factor Meals
Is Factor Healthy?
The ingredients in Factor Creamy Pesto Pork Chop are shown below:
image source: https://www.factor75.com/
Olive oil, onions and almond flour are nutrient-dense whole food ingredients, but there are a number of ingredients in this meal that may be questionable from a health perspective.
Calcium propionate is a preservative that was shown in a clinical trial to cause irritability, restlessness, sleep disorders and attention issues in children.
Natural flavorings is a broad descriptor that could refer to a wide range of chemical compounds, and a study published in the Toxicology Research journal documented toxicity concerns with some flavoring compounds.
Citric acid is another preservative ingredient (sometimes used as a flavor enhancer) that is shown to cause inflammatory reactions in some individuals, as we documented in our article on another meal plan called ProLon that we recently reviewed.
Factor fails to clarify on all recipes whether the animal products are sourced from grass-fed animals (although grass-fed beef is mentioned in some recipes).
A 2019 medical review published in 2019 found that grass-fed animal products are richer in important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and may reduce inflammation compared to eating animal products sourced from conventionally-raised animals (which tend to be higher in omega-6 fatty acids).
Factor may be a good option for consumers on a ketogenic (“keto”) diet, because the majority of Factor meals provide under 20 grams (g) of carbohydrates (many containing around 10 g).
Most keto diets restrict carb intake to under 50 g per day.
Overall we’re unimpressed with Factor’s ingredients.
While the meals are likely to be healthier than what the average American is eating, because they contain vegetables, we do not believe this service is worth the price and would not recommend it from a nutritional perspective.
Is the Packaging a Health Risk?
As shown in this image from the brand's website, Factor meals appear to be packaged in plastic:
image source: https://www.factor75.com/
This is not something most consumers consider in our modern world, but regularly eating foods packaged in plastic may have negative health consequences.
Factor meals appear to be packaged in plastic containers, which may leach harmful plasticizing compounds into food which are then eaten by the consumer.
A medical review published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal found that plastic products leach toxic chemicals into food or water under realistic use scenarios.
We also know from decades of scientific research that most plastics (whether recycled or not) end up in the ocean and in landfills, which is why we recommend that consumers avoid food products packaged in plastic as much as possible.
Is the Sodium Content an Issue?
Most Factor meals contain higher sodium levels than we’ve observed from other meal delivery brands.
While individuals on a keto diet may require higher sodium intake, we believe the sodium content in Factor is worth being aware of, because high sodium intake may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease according to a meta-study published in the Nutrients journal.
According to the above-linked study, every 1,000 milligrams (mg) of dietary sodium increased the risk of cardiovascular disease by 6%.
Factor's Keto Mushroom Burger contains 920 mg of sodium, the Keto Chorizo Chili contains 970 mg of sodium and the Santa Fe Beef Bowl contains 910 mg of sodium.
We don’t believe that the relationship between sodium and heart disease is as causative and simple as mainstream health media makes it out to be, but we do think it would be worthwhile for anyone with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure to speak with their doctor before regularly consuming meals this high in sodium.
Factor vs. Popular Meal Delivery Brands
Here's how Factor compares to other popular meal delivery brands in terms of healthiness, in our opinion:
Sakara
This is the healthiest meal delivery brand we've reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.
While the meals don't taste very good (we purchased and tried them), from a pure health perspective, Sakara is the clear winner.
Every meal we reviewed was composed of entirely whole food ingredients.
Winner: Sakara
EveryPlate
EveryPlate is a budget meal delivery brand.
As we documented in the above-linked review, some of the ingredients listed on the brand's website were actually multi-ingredient blends like "Creamy Tomato Soup."
This lack of full ingredient disclosures is a health and safety issue, so Factor has the advantage due to its clear ingredient disclosures.
Winner: Factor
NutriSystem
This meal delivery brand is marketed as a weight loss option.
NutriSystem meals are less healthy than Factor; some of them contain ingredients like added phosphates and corn syrup.
Factor is the clear winner from a nutritional perspective.
Winner: Factor
Factor Meals Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Most meals contain vegetables
- Healthier than average American diet
- Relatively affordable given product category
- Decent option for keto dieters
- Meals contain some nutritious ingredients
- Some recipes use grass-fed beef
- Healthier than some competitors
Cons:
- Some meals contain preservatives
- Some meals contain citric acid
- Some meals contain flavoring additives
- Many recipes fail to distinguish between pastured animal products and conventional animal products
- Packaged in plastic
- Relatively high in sodium
