Is Gustafson's Ice Cream Vanilla Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Cedar Crest Specialties
This page reviews Gustafson's Ice Cream Vanilla by Cedar Crest Specialties as a dessert. Its current score is 45/100, suggesting that it shows multiple flagged ingredients that may matter for sensitive users.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Corn Syrup, Mono Diglycerides, Polysorbate 80.
45 / 100
Why score is 45
The composition includes several synthetic additives such as carrageenan, polysorbate 80, and artificial flavors, which raise quality and safety concerns. The presence of high fructose corn syrup and caramel color further indicates a highly processed product, contributing to the low rating.
Main concern
High fructose corn syrup is a processed sweetener linked to health concerns, lowering the overall quality.
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 buttermilk and cream, which are natural dairy ingredients contributing to flavor.
- Guar gum and xanthan gum serve as thickeners, enhancing texture without synthetic alternatives.
Concerns
- High fructose corn syrup is a processed sweetener linked to health concerns, lowering the overall quality.
- Carrageenan is a thickener that has raised safety concerns due to potential digestive issues.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this dessert and why it matters.
-
Is Buttermilk safe in this dessert?
Good
Buttermilk is used here as base. Buttermilk is a fermented dairy product that adds creaminess and flavor to the ice cream. Its natural composition supports quality, but it is still a dairy product.
Role in formula: base
Original: Buttermilk
-
Is Cream safe in this dessert?
Good
Cream is used here as base. Cream is a natural dairy ingredient that contributes to the rich texture and flavor of the ice cream. Its presence indicates a higher quality compared to non-dairy alternatives.
Role in formula: base
Original: cream
-
Is Nonfat Milk safe in this dessert?
Good
Nonfat Milk is used here as base. Nonfat milk is used to provide a creamy texture without added fat. It is a common ingredient in ice creams, contributing to the overall dairy profile.
Role in formula: base
Original: nonfat milk
-
Is Sugar safe in this dessert?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a common sweetener that enhances flavor but raises concerns about high glycemic index and potential health impacts when consumed in excess.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Corn Syrup safe in this dessert?
Bad
Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Corn syrup is a processed sweetener that can contribute to excessive sugar intake and is often linked to health issues, lowering the product's quality.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: corn syrup
-
Is Whey safe in this dessert?
Good
Whey is used here as base. Whey is a byproduct of cheese production and adds protein and creaminess to the ice cream. It is a natural ingredient that supports quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: whey
-
Is Guar Gum safe in this dessert?
Medium
Guar Gum is used here as thickener. Guar gum is a natural thickener derived from guar beans. It helps improve texture but can raise concerns about digestive issues in some individuals.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: guar gum
-
Is Mono Diglycerides safe in this dessert?
Bad
Mono Diglycerides is used here as emulsifier. Mono and diglycerides are emulsifiers that help blend ingredients but are often derived from partially hydrogenated oils, raising health concerns.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: mono & diglycerides
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this dessert?
Medium
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a thickening agent that stabilizes the ice cream's texture. While generally recognized as safe, it is a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: xanthan gum
-
Is Polysorbate 80 safe in this dessert?
Bad
Polysorbate 80 is used here as emulsifier. Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic emulsifier that helps maintain texture but has raised concerns regarding its potential effects on health.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: polysorbate 80
-
Is Carrageenan safe in this dessert?
Bad
Carrageenan is used here as thickener. Carrageenan is a thickener derived from seaweed that has been associated with digestive issues, raising safety concerns in food products.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: carrageenan
-
Is High Fructose Corn Syrup safe in this dessert?
Bad
High Fructose Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. High fructose corn syrup is a highly processed sweetener linked to various health issues, significantly lowering the product's quality.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: high fructose corn syrup
Read the full ingredient profile for High Fructose Corn Syrup
-
Is Natural Artificial Flavors safe in this dessert?
Bad
Natural Artificial Flavors is used here as flavor. Natural and artificial flavors are used to enhance taste but can obscure the true quality of the product, raising concerns about transparency.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: natural & artificial flavors
Read the full ingredient profile for Natural Artificial Flavors
-
Is Caramel Color safe in this dessert?
Bad
Caramel Color is used here as colorant. Caramel color is an artificial colorant that can be derived from various sources and is associated with potential health risks, impacting quality.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: caramel color
-
Is Salt safe in this dessert?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is used to enhance flavor and balance sweetness in the ice cream. Its presence is common in many food products and does not raise safety concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Annatto safe in this dessert?
Medium
Annatto is used here as colorant. Annatto is a natural colorant derived from the achiote tree. While it is generally considered safe, it is still a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: annatto (color)
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: 2388670
More from this brand: Cedar Crest Specialties products in Zerotox
Similar products: dessert in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk
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