Is Mini Gum Balls Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Zed Candy
Zed Candy's Mini Gum Balls is reviewed here as a dessert. Zerotox gives it 30/100 based on the current ingredient profile, so it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
The ingredient review below focuses especially on Sugar, Dextrose, Glucose Syrup.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes several synthetic additives such as E321 (BHT) as an antioxidant and artificial colors (E141, E160a, E162). These raise significant quality and safety concerns, indicating a highly processed product.
Main concern
High sugar content raises concerns about excessive sweetness and potential health impacts.
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 glycerin, which acts as a humectant to retain moisture in the gum balls.
- Includes natural colorants like black carrot concentrate and spirulina, which are derived from plant sources.
Concerns
- High sugar content raises concerns about excessive sweetness and potential health impacts.
- Presence of E321 (BHT) as an antioxidant raises concerns about synthetic additives and their long-term safety.
- Modified starch from cassava may indicate processing that could affect quality.
- Artificial colors (E141, E160a, E162) are synthetic and may pose health risks.
Ingredients breakdown
Below, each ingredient is described in the context of this dessert, not just listed as a raw label.
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Is Sugar safe in this dessert?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a highly processed sweetener that contributes to the overall sweetness of the gum balls but raises health concerns related to excessive consumption.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SUGAR
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Is Dextrose safe in this dessert?
Bad
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a simple sugar that adds sweetness but can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, raising health concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: DEXTROSE
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Is Gum Base safe in this dessert?
Medium
Gum Base is used here as base. Gum base is a synthetic mixture that provides the chewy texture of the gum but may contain various additives that raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: GUM BASE
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Is Glucose Syrup safe in this dessert?
Bad
Glucose Syrup is used here as sweetener. Glucose syrup is a processed sweetener that can contribute to high sugar content and potential health risks associated with excessive sugar intake.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: GLUCOSE SYRUP
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Is Flavourings safe in this dessert?
Bad
Flavourings is used here as flavor. Flavourings are often synthetic and can include artificial compounds that may raise safety concerns regarding their long-term effects.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: FLAVOURINGS
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Is Glycerin safe in this dessert?
Medium
Glycerin is used here as humectant. Glycerin is a humectant that helps retain moisture in the product, but its processing raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: HUMECTANT GLYCERIN
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Is Modified Starch safe in this dessert?
Medium
Modified Starch is used here as thickener. Modified starch is used as a thickener and stabilizer, but its processing may affect the overall quality of the product.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: MODIFIED STARCH (MODIFIED CASSAVA STARCH)
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Is Carnauba Wax safe in this dessert?
Medium
Carnauba Wax is used here as glazing agent. Carnauba wax is a natural glazing agent that provides a shiny finish but is processed and may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: glazing agent
Original: CARNAUBA WAX
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Is Shellac safe in this dessert?
Bad
Shellac is used here as glazing agent. Shellac is a resin used as a glazing agent, but it is derived from insects and raises concerns about its processing and sourcing.
Role in formula: glazing agent
Original: SHELLAC
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Is E321 safe in this dessert?
Bad
E321 is used here as antioxidant. E321 (BHT) is a synthetic antioxidant used to prolong shelf life but raises concerns about potential health risks associated with synthetic additives.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: ANTIOXIDANT E321
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Is E141 safe in this dessert?
Bad
E141 is used here as colorant. E141 is a synthetic colorant that may pose health risks and raises concerns about the use of artificial colors in food products.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: COLOURS: E141
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Is E160a safe in this dessert?
Bad
E160a is used here as colorant. E160a is a synthetic colorant that can raise safety concerns due to its artificial nature and potential health implications.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: E160a
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Is E162 safe in this dessert?
Bad
E162 is used here as colorant. E162 is a synthetic colorant derived from beets, which may raise concerns about artificial additives in food products.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: E162: BLACK CARROT CONCENTRATE
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Is Spirulina Concentrated safe in this dessert?
Good
Spirulina Concentrated is used here as colorant. Spirulina concentrated is a natural colorant derived from algae, which is generally considered safe and adds nutritional value.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: SPIRULINA CONCENTRATED
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: 3935586
More from this brand: Zed Candy products in Zerotox
Similar products: dessert 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.