Is Asteroid Apple, Berry Star Cluster Fruit Flavored Snacks Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Fruit Gushers
This page reviews Asteroid Apple, Berry Star Cluster Fruit Flavored Snacks by Fruit Gushers as a snack. Its current score is 30/100, suggesting that it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Dried Corn Syrup.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes several synthetic additives such as sugar, corn syrup, and artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5), which indicate a highly processed product. Carrageenan and palm oil also raise quality concerns due to their potential health implications, contributing to the low rating.
Main concern
High sugar content from sugar and corn syrup raises concerns about excessive sweetness.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains pear puree concentrate, which adds some fruit content to the snack.
- Includes vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is a common antioxidant.
- Natural flavor is present, indicating some use of real flavoring.
- Xanthan gum serves as a stabilizer, helping maintain texture.
Concerns
- High sugar content from sugar and corn syrup raises concerns about excessive sweetness.
- Carrageenan is included, which has been linked to digestive issues in some individuals.
- Artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5) are synthetic and may pose sensitivity risks.
- Palm oil is present, raising environmental and health concerns.
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this snack and why it matters.
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Is Sugar safe in this snack?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a highly processed sweetener that contributes to the overall sweetness of the product. Its high content raises concerns about excessive sugar intake and associated health risks.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Sugar
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Is Corn Syrup safe in this snack?
Bad
Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch, contributing to the product's high sugar content. Its use raises concerns about high glycemic index and potential health implications.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Corn Syrup
-
Is Dried Corn Syrup safe in this snack?
Bad
Dried Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Dried corn syrup is a concentrated form of corn syrup, further increasing the sugar content. Its presence indicates a highly processed nature of the snack.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Dried Corn Syrup
-
Is Pear Puree Concentrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Pear Puree Concentrate is used here as base. Pear puree concentrate adds some fruit content to the snack, but its concentrated form may lack the benefits of whole fruit. It contributes to flavor but is still processed.
Role in formula: base
Original: Pear Puree Concentrate
-
Is Modified Corn Starch safe in this snack?
Medium
Modified Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Modified corn starch is used as a thickening agent in the product. While it helps achieve desired texture, it is a processed ingredient that raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Modified Corn Starch
-
Is Fructose safe in this snack?
Bad
Fructose is used here as sweetener. Fructose is a simple sugar that can contribute to high sugar levels in the diet. Its presence raises concerns about potential metabolic effects when consumed in excess.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Fructose
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this snack?
Medium
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate derived from starch, used as a thickener and sweetener. It is processed and can raise blood sugar levels, which is a concern for some consumers.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Maltodextrin
-
Is Palm Oil safe in this snack?
Bad
Palm Oil is used here as fat. Palm oil is a common ingredient in processed snacks, but its production raises environmental concerns. Additionally, it is a saturated fat that may have health implications.
Role in formula: fat
Original: Palm Oil
-
Is Cottonseed Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Cottonseed Oil is used here as fat. Cottonseed oil is a vegetable oil that is often used in processed foods. While it is a source of fat, it is also highly processed and may contain residues from pesticides.
Role in formula: fat
Original: Cottonseed Oil
-
Is Glycerin safe in this snack?
Medium
Glycerin is used here as humectant. Glycerin is used to retain moisture in the product. While it is generally recognized as safe, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: Glycerin
-
Is Grape Juice Concentrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Grape Juice Concentrate is used here as base. Grape juice concentrate adds flavor and some natural sweetness to the snack. However, it is still a concentrated form of juice, which may lack the benefits of whole fruit.
Role in formula: base
Original: Grape Juice Concentrate
Read the full ingredient profile for Grape Juice Concentrate
-
Is Carrageenan safe in this snack?
Bad
Carrageenan is used here as thickener. Carrageenan is a thickening agent derived from seaweed. It has been associated with digestive issues in some individuals, raising concerns about its safety in food products.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Carrageenan
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this snack?
Medium
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is used to add tartness and preserve the product. While it is naturally occurring, its presence in processed foods raises questions about overall ingredient quality.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: Citric Acid
-
Is Monoglycerides safe in this snack?
Medium
Monoglycerides is used here as emulsifier. Monoglycerides are used as emulsifiers to maintain texture. They are derived from fats and can be processed, raising concerns about their origin and health implications.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Monoglycerides
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Is Sodium Citrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Sodium Citrate is used here as buffer. Sodium citrate is used to regulate acidity in the product. While it serves a functional purpose, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: Sodium Citrate
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Is Malic Acid safe in this snack?
Medium
Malic Acid is used here as acidulant. Malic acid is used to enhance tartness in the snack. While it is naturally occurring, its presence in processed foods raises questions about overall ingredient quality.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: Malic Acid
-
Is Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid safe in this snack?
Good
Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid is used here as antioxidant. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that acts as an antioxidant. Its inclusion adds some nutritional value, but it is often added to processed foods for preservation.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Read the full ingredient profile for Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid
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Is Potassium Citrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Potassium Citrate is used here as buffer. Potassium citrate is used to regulate acidity and provide potassium. While it serves a functional purpose, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant benefits.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: Potassium Citrate
-
Is Agar Agar safe in this snack?
Medium
Agar Agar is used here as thickener. Agar-agar is a plant-based thickening agent derived from seaweed. While it is natural, its processing raises questions about the overall quality of the ingredient.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Agar-Agar
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this snack?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor is used to enhance taste. While derived from natural sources, the specific composition is often proprietary, raising questions about transparency.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Natural Flavor
-
Is Color Red 40 Blue 1 Yellow 5 safe in this snack?
Bad
Color Red 40 Blue 1 Yellow 5 is used here as colorant. Red 40, Blue 1, and Yellow 5 are artificial colorants used to enhance appearance. These synthetic additives are associated with potential sensitivity issues and indicate a highly processed product.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: Color (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5)
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this snack?
Medium
Xanthan Gum is used here as stabilizer. Xanthan gum is a natural polysaccharide used as a stabilizer. While it helps maintain texture, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: Xanthan Gum
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 2379680
More from this brand: Fruit Gushers products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.