Is Gummy Hearts Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Hilco Corporation
Gummy Hearts is a dessert from Hilco Corporation. It has a Zerotox safety score of 30/100, which means it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
The main ingredients worth reviewing are Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Artificial Flavor.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes glucose syrup and sugar as primary sweeteners, along with artificial flavor and color. These synthetic additives raise significant quality concerns.
Main concern
High levels of glucose syrup and sugar indicate excessive sweetness, raising health concerns.
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 pectin, a natural gelling agent that can provide a better texture.
- Citric acid and malic acid contribute to a tart flavor profile, enhancing taste.
Concerns
- High levels of glucose syrup and sugar indicate excessive sweetness, raising health concerns.
- Artificial flavor and color (FD&C Red No. 40) are synthetic additives that may pose quality issues.
- Palm oil is present, which raises sustainability concerns regarding its sourcing.
Who should avoid this product?
This dessert may not be the best fit for:
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this dessert so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Glucose Syrup safe in this dessert?
Bad
Glucose Syrup is used here as sweetener. Glucose syrup is a highly processed sweetener derived from starch, contributing to high sugar content and potential health risks.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: glucose syrup
-
Is Sugar safe in this dessert?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a refined sweetener that adds calories without nutritional benefits, raising concerns about excessive consumption.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Water safe in this dessert?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as a solvent in this product, essential for dissolving other ingredients and creating the desired texture.
Role in formula: base
Original: water
-
Is Gelatin safe in this dessert?
Medium
Gelatin is used here as base. Gelatin is a protein derived from animal sources, used for its gelling properties, but raises concerns for vegetarians and vegans.
Role in formula: base
Original: gelatin
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Is Citric Acid safe in this dessert?
Good
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is a natural preservative and flavor enhancer, providing tartness and helping to balance sweetness in the product.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: citric acid
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Is Pectin safe in this dessert?
Good
Pectin is used here as stabilizer. Pectin is a natural thickening agent derived from fruits, contributing to the gummy texture without synthetic additives.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: pectin
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Is Malic Acid safe in this dessert?
Good
Malic Acid is used here as acidulant. Malic acid is a natural acid that enhances flavor and provides tartness, improving the overall taste profile of the gummies.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: malic acid
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Is Artificial Flavor safe in this dessert?
Bad
Artificial Flavor is used here as flavor. Artificial flavor is a synthetic additive used to enhance taste, raising concerns about the quality and safety of the flavoring.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: artificial flavor
-
Is Sodium Citrate safe in this dessert?
Medium
Sodium Citrate is used here as buffer. Sodium citrate is used to regulate acidity and enhance flavor, but it is a processed ingredient that may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: sodium citrate
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Is Palm Oil safe in this dessert?
Bad
Palm Oil is used here as base. Palm oil is a highly processed fat that raises sustainability concerns due to its environmental impact and potential health issues.
Role in formula: base
Original: palm oil
-
Is Artificial Color Fd C Red No 40 safe in this dessert?
Bad
Artificial Color Fd C Red No 40 is used here as colorant. FD&C Red No. 40 is a synthetic dye used for coloring, which may pose health risks and raises concerns about artificial additives.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: artificial color (fd&c red no. 40)
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: 3327595
More from this brand: Hilco Corporation products in Zerotox
Similar products: dessert in Zerotox database
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