Is Fruit Gushers Safe? Ingredient Analysis
This page reviews 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: Modified Palm Oil, Carrageenan, Distilled Monoglycerides.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition of Fruit Gushers includes several synthetic additives such as modified palm oil and carrageenan, which raise quality and safety concerns. The presence of artificial colors like tartrazine further indicates a highly processed product.
Main concern
Modified palm oil and carrageenan are synthetic additives that may raise health concerns due to their processing.
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 concentrated fruit purees like pear and grape, which provide some natural flavor.
- Includes citric acid and ascorbic acid, which can enhance flavor and act as preservatives.
Concerns
- Modified palm oil and carrageenan are synthetic additives that may raise health concerns due to their processing.
- The presence of artificial color tartrazine indicates the use of synthetic coloring agents, which can be problematic for some consumers.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- users trying to avoid silicones
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this snack and why it matters.
-
Is Golden Sugar safe in this snack?
Medium
Golden Sugar is used here as sweetener. Golden sugar is a refined sugar that adds sweetness to the product but raises concerns due to its high processing level.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: golden sugar
-
Is Corn Syrup safe in this snack?
Medium
Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch, contributing to the product's sweetness but is highly processed.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: corn syrup
-
Is Corn Syrup Solids safe in this snack?
Medium
Corn Syrup Solids is used here as sweetener. Corn syrup solids are dehydrated corn syrup, used for sweetness and texture, but are also processed.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: corn syrup solids
-
Is Concentrated Pear Puree safe in this snack?
Good
Concentrated Pear Puree is used here as natural_extract. Concentrated pear puree provides natural fruit flavor and some nutritional benefits, enhancing the product's appeal.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: concentrated pear puree
Read the full ingredient profile for Concentrated Pear Puree
-
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, but its processing raises concerns about quality.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: modified corn starch
-
Is Fructose safe in this snack?
Medium
Fructose is used here as sweetener. Fructose is a simple sugar that adds sweetness but is often derived from high-fructose corn syrup, raising health concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: fructose
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this snack?
Medium
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate used for texture, but its high processing level raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: maltodextrin
-
Is Modified Palm Oil safe in this snack?
Bad
Modified Palm Oil is used here as emulsifier. Modified palm oil is a processed fat that may raise health concerns due to its synthetic nature and potential environmental impact.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: modified palm oil
-
Is Cottonseed Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Cottonseed Oil is used here as oil_fat. Cottonseed oil is a refined oil that may contain residues from pesticides, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: oil_fat
Original: cottonseed oil
-
Is Glycerin safe in this snack?
Medium
Glycerin is used here as solvent. Glycerin is a humectant that helps retain moisture but is often derived from synthetic sources.
Role in formula: solvent
Original: glycerin
-
Is Concentrated Grape Juice safe in this snack?
Good
Concentrated Grape Juice is used here as natural_extract. Concentrated grape juice adds natural sweetness and flavor, contributing positively to the product's profile.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: concentrated grape juice
Read the full ingredient profile for Concentrated Grape Juice
-
Is Carrageenan safe in this snack?
Bad
Carrageenan is used here as thickener. Carrageenan is a thickening agent derived from seaweed, but it has been linked to digestive issues and raises safety concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: carrageenan
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this snack?
Good
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is a natural preservative and flavor enhancer, contributing positively to the product's safety and quality.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: citric acid
-
Is Distilled Monoglycerides safe in this snack?
Bad
Distilled Monoglycerides is used here as emulsifier. Distilled monoglycerides are synthetic emulsifiers that may raise concerns due to their processing and potential health effects.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: distilled monoglycerides
Read the full ingredient profile for Distilled Monoglycerides
-
Is Sodium Citrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Sodium Citrate is used here as buffer. Sodium citrate is used to regulate acidity but is a processed ingredient that raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: sodium citrate
-
Is Malic Acid safe in this snack?
Medium
Malic Acid is used here as acidulant. Malic acid is a natural acid that enhances flavor but is often synthesized, raising some quality concerns.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: malic acid
-
Is Ascorbic Acid safe in this snack?
Good
Ascorbic Acid is used here as antioxidant. Ascorbic acid is a natural antioxidant that helps preserve freshness and adds nutritional value.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: ascorbic acid
-
Is Dextrose safe in this snack?
Medium
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a simple sugar that adds sweetness but is often derived from corn, raising health concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: dextrose
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this snack?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor is derived from natural sources but can be processed, raising some quality concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: natural flavor
-
Is Potassium Citrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Potassium Citrate is used here as buffer. Potassium citrate is used to regulate acidity but is a processed ingredient that raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: potassium citrate
-
Is Agar Agar safe in this snack?
Good
Agar Agar is used here as thickener. Agar agar is a natural thickening agent derived from seaweed, contributing positively to the product's quality.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: agar agar
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this snack?
Medium
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a thickening agent that can be derived from fermentation but raises concerns due to its processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: xanthan gum
-
Is Colour Contains Tartrazine safe in this snack?
Bad
Colour Contains Tartrazine is used here as colorant. Tartrazine is an artificial colorant linked to allergic reactions and other health concerns, indicating a highly processed product.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: colour (contains tartrazine)
-
Is Dimethy Polysiloxane Formulation safe in this snack?
Bad
Dimethy Polysiloxane Formulation is used here as surfactant. Dimethy polysiloxane is a synthetic surfactant that raises significant safety concerns due to its chemical nature.
Role in formula: surfactant
Original: dimethy polysiloxane formulation
-
Is Sulphites safe in this snack?
Bad
Sulphites is used here as preservative. Sulphites are preservatives that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: sulphites
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: 3249991
Similar products: snack in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: sulphites
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.