{"id":557104169033,"title":"Factor Meals Review: Overpriced or Worth It?","created_at":"2022-10-30T21:31:50-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Factor Meals Review: Overpriced or Worth It?\",\n \"keywords\": \"factor, factor review, factor reviews, factor meals, factor meals review, factor meals reviews, factor 75 meals, factor keto meals, factor meal, factor meals menu, factor meals keto, factor meals price, how much is factor meals, keto factor meals, factor keto meals review, factor meal menu, are factor meals healthy\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the ingredients in Factor meals to give our take on whether or not they're healthy, and whether they're worth the high price. We share a real user review of the products including a taste test, and highlight some questionable ingredients in Factor meals.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/factor-meals-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"exercise, drugs, pharmaceutical, health, workout, strength and conditioning, nutrition, dietetics, medicine, medical research, scientific research, scientific method, healthcare, patient care, wellness\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Factor_Meals_Thumbnail.png?v=1667180938\",\n\"width\": \"3707\",\n\"height\": \"3707\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12173999\/\", \n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6062396\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/prolon-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6434678\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7601012\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8427741\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2873021\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/il\/chicago\/profile\/wholesale-health-products\/factor-75-0654-90005442\/customer-reviews\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"preservative\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"grass-fed\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Miss Sarah E K\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"keto\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"BBB\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2022-10-30\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Factor_Meals_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1667179957\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eF\u003c\/span\u003eactor, also known as \"Factor75,\" is one of the most popular meal delivery services in the U.S., and the brand is focused on healthy meals. Consumers are able to pick between 30 “dietitian-designed” meals every week, and Factor describes their meals as “Healthy Eating, Made Easy” because all users have to do is heat them up.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut are Factor meals really healthier than cheaper alternatives like Hello Fresh? Do they contain any unhealthy added ingredients? What is the true cost of a month’s worth of Factor meals? And how do real users rate the taste of Factor meals?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Factor’s current weekly menu to give our take on whether they’re healthy or not, and share a real user review of the meal delivery service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also give our take on Factor’s “Keto” meals and break down the true cost of this service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Factor_Creamy_Pesto_Pork_Chop_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1667180022\" alt=\"Factor Creamy Pesto Pork Chop ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredient list above is from Factor’s Creamy Pesto Pork Chop.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile it does contain some nutrient-dense whole food ingredients like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eolive oil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eonions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ealmond flour\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, there are a number of ingredients we consider questionable from a health perspective.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe preservative \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ecalcium propionate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/12173999\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to cause irritability, restlessness, sleep disorders and attention issues in children. We haven’t come across any research suggesting the same effects in adults, but this study underlines why we recommend avoiding food preservatives altogether.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNatural flavorings\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a broad descriptor that could refer to a wide range of chemical compounds, and a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6062396\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003estudy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eToxicology Research\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal documented toxicity concerns with some flavoring compounds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCitric acid\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is another preservative ingredient (sometimes used as a flavor enhancer) that appears to cause inflammatory reactions in a small subset of individuals, as we documented in our article on another meal plan called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/prolon-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eProLon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e that we recently reviewed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFactor makes no mention of whether their animal products or dairy are sourced from grass-fed animals, so we will assume they are not. An extensive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6434678\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 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).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe good thing for consumers on a ketogenic (“keto”) diet is that the majority of Factors meals contain under 20 grams (g) of carbohydrates (many containing around 10 g), so this meal service should be effective as part of a keto diet and this isn’t just a marketing claim. Most keto diets restrict carb intake to under 50 g per day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOverall we’re unimpressed with Factor’s ingredients.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e While their 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 due to the questionable additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal User Reviews Factor Meals\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOne of the most popular YouTube reviews of Factor meals is published by a creator called Miss Sarah E K. She reviews the pros and cons of Factor and does taste tests:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YD-uZZ1_pYo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHigh Sodium Content\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost Factor meals contain higher sodium levels than we’ve seen in other meal delivery services.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile individuals on a keto diet may require higher sodium intake, we believe this is worth being aware of because high sodium intake is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7601012\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eaccording to\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e medical research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Keto Mushroom Burger contains 920 milligrams (mg) of sodium, the Keto Chorizo Chili contains 970 mg of sodium and the Santa Fe Beef Bowl contains 910 mg of sodium.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe 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 consuming meals this high in sodium.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMany YouTube reviewers were adding sauces to the meals, which would add more sodium.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow Much Do Factor Meals Really Cost?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Factor_Meals_Price_Optimized.png?v=1667180068\" alt=\"Factor meals price\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Factor website advertises that their meal plan is “starting at $11 per meal.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut is this the true cost? And does Factor ship enough meals for an entire week’s worth of food?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOn the cheapest plan of four meals per week, each meal costs $15, plus shipping. The most expensive plan of 18 meals per week breaks down to $11 per meal, plus shipping. It is unclear from Factor’s website how much the average shipping rate is.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor 18 meals per week, Factor charges $198, plus shipping. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThat equates to a monthly cost of $792 plus four shipping charges.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e We consider this to be a very expensive plan, especially given that the animal products don’t even appear to be sourced from grass-fed animals (which is more expensive).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor $800 per month we believe that consumers could get better nutrition than this.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHealth and Environmental Issues Of Plastic Packaging\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is not something most consumers consider in our modern world, but regularly eating foods packaged in plastic may have negative health consequences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFactor meals are packaged in plastic containers, which may leach harmful plasticizing compounds into food which are then eaten by the consumer. A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8427741\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eEnvironmental Science \u0026amp; Technology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that plastic products leach toxic chemicals under realistic use scenarios.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe also know \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2873021\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003efrom decades of scientific research\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customer Complaints\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of customer complaints on Factor’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/il\/chicago\/profile\/wholesale-health-products\/factor-75-0654-90005442\/customer-reviews\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003epage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. This isn’t surprising for a company as popular as Factor, but it is concerning in our opinion that so many of these complaints follow a similar theme: a customer being charged with the customer alleging that they did not agree to the charge.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA user named “Carol S” claims they were charged even after cancelling:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“If I could give this company NO stars, I would have done so. Do NOT give them your credit card info! It is WRONG that they require a credit card number BEFORE you are allowed to view their meal options.Even though I cancelled my subscription within MINUTES of giving them my card number, they still charged me and refuse to give a refund.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnother user named “LISA M” complained of a similarly frustrating experience:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“On 10\/13\/22, four days after I visited their site, they had the nerve to charge my bank account for an order for $89.99! They were only able to do that because they still had my credit card information from when I previously used their service! I got online and ‘chatted’ with two of their reps (including a ‘supervisor’) immediately. They kept me online a long time acting like they were trying to resolve the issue, when it was clear they were not.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFactor’s customer review rating on the BBB site is only 1.21 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Meal Delivery Pick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Meal_Delivery_Image_Updated_Optimized.png?v=1693429827\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/activation.healthline.com\/api\/member-offers\/4328\/redirect?lp=328\u0026amp;tc=120226\u0026amp;subid=rvosubaff_illuminatelabs\" rel=\"sponsored\" rel-=\"sponsored\"\u003eTrifecta Nutrition\u003c\/a\u003e is our top meal delivery service pick because of its nutritious options.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir meals are created by chefs, and \u003cstrong\u003emost importantly, the meals are rich in vitamins and minerals because they're primarily made with vegetables and grass-fed meats. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike most commercial meal plans, Trifecta doesn't use filler carbs for most of the calories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out Trifecta Nutrition \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/activation.healthline.com\/api\/member-offers\/4328\/redirect?lp=328\u0026amp;tc=120226\u0026amp;subid=rvosubaff_illuminatelabs\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e to the product page on the brand's official website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFactor meals are decently formulated but we do not believe they’re worth the high price. They would likely improve the nutritional status of the average American, but for over $800 a month, we believe there are superior options (either from other meal delivery services or just cooking at home).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFactor meals contain several questionable additive ingredients including preservatives and flavoring agents. Their animal products do not appear to be sourced from grass-fed animals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePlastic packaging of food products is potentially harmful to human health, and certainly harmful to the environment. We recommend that consumers opt for plastic-free packaging of their food products as much as possible, because plasticizing chemicals can leach from packaging into food.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2022-10-30T21:53:21-04:00","updated_at":"2023-08-30T17:23:59-04:00","summary_html":"We review the ingredients in Factor meals to give our take on whether or not they're healthy, and whether they're worth the high price. We share a real user review of the products including a taste test, and highlight some questionable ingredients in Factor meals.","template_suffix":"","handle":"factor-meals-review","tags":"_related:diet"}

Factor Meals Review: Overpriced or Worth It?

Factor Meals Review: Overpriced or Worth It?


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Read our Editorial Guidelines to learn more about what makes our site the premier resource for online health information.

Factor, also known as "Factor75," is one of the most popular meal delivery services in the U.S., and the brand is focused on healthy meals. Consumers are able to pick between 30 “dietitian-designed” meals every week, and Factor describes their meals as “Healthy Eating, Made Easy” because all users have to do is heat them up.

But are Factor meals really healthier than cheaper alternatives like Hello Fresh? Do they contain any unhealthy added ingredients? What is the true cost of a month’s worth of Factor meals? And how do real users rate the taste of Factor meals?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Factor’s current weekly menu to give our take on whether they’re healthy or not, and share a real user review of the meal delivery service.

We’ll also give our take on Factor’s “Keto” meals and break down the true cost of this service.

Ingredient Review

Factor Creamy Pesto Pork Chop ingredients

The ingredient list above is from Factor’s Creamy Pesto Pork Chop.

While it does contain some nutrient-dense whole food ingredients like olive oil, onions and almond flour, there are a number of ingredients we consider questionable from a health perspective.

The preservative calcium propionate was shown in a clinical trial to cause irritability, restlessness, sleep disorders and attention issues in children. We haven’t come across any research suggesting the same effects in adults, but this study underlines why we recommend avoiding food preservatives altogether.

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 appears to cause inflammatory reactions in a small subset of individuals, as we documented in our article on another meal plan called ProLon that we recently reviewed.

Factor makes no mention of whether their animal products or dairy are sourced from grass-fed animals, so we will assume they are not. An extensive 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).

The good thing for consumers on a ketogenic (“keto”) diet is that the majority of Factors meals contain under 20 grams (g) of carbohydrates (many containing around 10 g), so this meal service should be effective as part of a keto diet and this isn’t just a marketing claim. Most keto diets restrict carb intake to under 50 g per day.

Overall we’re unimpressed with Factor’s ingredients. While their 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 due to the questionable additive ingredients.

Real User Reviews Factor Meals

One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Factor meals is published by a creator called Miss Sarah E K. She reviews the pros and cons of Factor and does taste tests:

High Sodium Content

Most Factor meals contain higher sodium levels than we’ve seen in other meal delivery services.

While individuals on a keto diet may require higher sodium intake, we believe this is worth being aware of because high sodium intake is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease according to medical research.

The Keto Mushroom Burger contains 920 milligrams (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 consuming meals this high in sodium.

Many YouTube reviewers were adding sauces to the meals, which would add more sodium.

How Much Do Factor Meals Really Cost?

Factor meals price

The Factor website advertises that their meal plan is “starting at $11 per meal.”

But is this the true cost? And does Factor ship enough meals for an entire week’s worth of food?

On the cheapest plan of four meals per week, each meal costs $15, plus shipping. The most expensive plan of 18 meals per week breaks down to $11 per meal, plus shipping. It is unclear from Factor’s website how much the average shipping rate is.

For 18 meals per week, Factor charges $198, plus shipping. That equates to a monthly cost of $792 plus four shipping charges. We consider this to be a very expensive plan, especially given that the animal products don’t even appear to be sourced from grass-fed animals (which is more expensive).

For $800 per month we believe that consumers could get better nutrition than this.

Health and Environmental Issues Of Plastic Packaging

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 are 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 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.

Real Customer Complaints

There are a number of customer complaints on Factor’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page. This isn’t surprising for a company as popular as Factor, but it is concerning in our opinion that so many of these complaints follow a similar theme: a customer being charged with the customer alleging that they did not agree to the charge.

A user named “Carol S” claims they were charged even after cancelling:

“If I could give this company NO stars, I would have done so. Do NOT give them your credit card info! It is WRONG that they require a credit card number BEFORE you are allowed to view their meal options.Even though I cancelled my subscription within MINUTES of giving them my card number, they still charged me and refuse to give a refund.”

Another user named “LISA M” complained of a similarly frustrating experience:

“On 10/13/22, four days after I visited their site, they had the nerve to charge my bank account for an order for $89.99! They were only able to do that because they still had my credit card information from when I previously used their service! I got online and ‘chatted’ with two of their reps (including a ‘supervisor’) immediately. They kept me online a long time acting like they were trying to resolve the issue, when it was clear they were not.”

Factor’s customer review rating on the BBB site is only 1.21 out of 5 stars.

Our Clean Meal Delivery Pick

Trifecta Nutrition is our top meal delivery service pick because of its nutritious options.

Their meals are created by chefs, and most importantly, the meals are rich in vitamins and minerals because they're primarily made with vegetables and grass-fed meats. 

Unlike most commercial meal plans, Trifecta doesn't use filler carbs for most of the calories.

Interested consumers can check out Trifecta Nutrition at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.

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Conclusion

Factor meals are decently formulated but we do not believe they’re worth the high price. They would likely improve the nutritional status of the average American, but for over $800 a month, we believe there are superior options (either from other meal delivery services or just cooking at home).

Factor meals contain several questionable additive ingredients including preservatives and flavoring agents. Their animal products do not appear to be sourced from grass-fed animals.

Plastic packaging of food products is potentially harmful to human health, and certainly harmful to the environment. We recommend that consumers opt for plastic-free packaging of their food products as much as possible, because plasticizing chemicals can leach from packaging into food.




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