Is Heartland Harvest Nut & Chocolate Trail Mix Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Star Snacks Co
Heartland Harvest Nut & Chocolate Trail Mix is one of the snack products analyzed by Zerotox for Star Snacks Co. The product scores 30/100 in Zerotox, meaning it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Artificial Coloring, Vanillin affect the overall evaluation.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes several synthetic additives such as artificial colors and partially hydrogenated oils, raising significant quality and safety concerns. Ingredients like sulphur dioxide and artificial flavors further contribute to the low rating.
Main concern
Includes artificial colors such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, which raise safety concerns due to potential health risks.
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 nuts like peanuts, almonds, and cashews, which provide healthy fats and protein.
- Raisins add natural sweetness and some fiber, contributing positively to the mix.
Concerns
- Includes artificial colors such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, which raise safety concerns due to potential health risks.
- Partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil is present, indicating the use of trans fats, which are linked to health issues.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this snack.
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Is Peanuts safe in this snack?
Good
Peanuts is used here as base. Peanuts provide healthy fats and protein, contributing positively to the nutritional profile of the trail mix.
Role in formula: base
Original: Peanuts (peanuts roasted in peanut and/or cottonseed and/or sunflower seed and/or canola oil, salt)
-
Is Raisins safe in this snack?
Good
Raisins is used here as base. Raisins add natural sweetness and some fiber, enhancing the overall quality of the mix.
Role in formula: base
Original: raisins (with sulphur dioxide added as a preservative)
-
Is Sugar safe in this snack?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is used to sweeten the candy-coated chocolate pieces, but excessive sugar intake raises health concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil safe in this snack?
Bad
Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil is used here as base. This ingredient indicates the presence of trans fats, which are associated with various health risks.
Role in formula: base
Original: partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil
Read the full ingredient profile for Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
-
Is Artificial Coloring safe in this snack?
Bad
Artificial Coloring is used here as colorant. Artificial colors like Red 40 and Yellow 5 are linked to potential health risks, raising concerns about their safety.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: artificial coloring [includes red 40 lake, yellow 6 lake, yellow 6, blue 2 lake, blue 1 lake, yellow 5 lake]
-
Is Whey Powder safe in this snack?
Medium
Whey Powder is used here as base. Whey powder is a dairy derivative that adds protein but may pose issues for those with lactose intolerance.
Role in formula: base
Original: whey powder
-
Is Vanillin safe in this snack?
Bad
Vanillin is used here as flavor. Vanillin is an artificial flavor that may raise concerns about synthetic additives in the product.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: vanillin [artificial flavor]
-
Is Sulphur Dioxide safe in this snack?
Bad
Sulphur Dioxide is used here as preservative. Sulphur dioxide is a synthetic preservative that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: sulphur dioxide added as a preservative
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: 3425569
More from this brand: Star Snacks Co products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: peanut , milk
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.