Is Super Sour Berry Fruit Flavored Snacks Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Fruit Gushers
This page reviews Super Sour Berry Fruit Flavored Snacks by 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: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Dried Corn Syrup.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes several synthetic and processed ingredients such as sugar, corn syrup, and palm oil, which raise quality concerns. Additionally, artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1 are present, indicating a highly processed product with potential health implications.
Main concern
High sugar content from sugar and corn syrup raises concerns about excessive sweetness.
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 pear puree concentrate, which adds some fruit content to the snack.
- Includes vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is a common antioxidant.
Concerns
- High sugar content from sugar and corn syrup raises concerns about excessive sweetness.
- Presence of artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 1) indicates synthetic additives that may pose health risks.
- Carrageenan is included, which has been associated with digestive issues in some individuals.
- Palm oil is present, raising environmental sustainability concerns.
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this snack and why it matters.
-
Is Sugar safe in this snack?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a highly processed sweetener that contributes to the overall sweetness of the snack. Its high content raises concerns about excessive sugar intake and potential health risks associated with high sugar consumption.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Sugar
-
Is Corn Syrup safe in this snack?
Bad
Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch, contributing to the product's sweetness. It is highly processed and linked to various health concerns, including obesity and metabolic issues.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Corn Syrup
-
Is Dried Corn Syrup safe in this snack?
Bad
Dried Corn Syrup is used here as sweetener. Dried corn syrup is a concentrated form of corn syrup, further increasing the sugar content. Its presence raises similar health concerns as corn syrup, particularly regarding high sugar intake.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Dried Corn Syrup
-
Is Pear Puree Concentrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Pear Puree Concentrate is used here as base. Pear puree concentrate adds some fruit content to the snack, providing a natural flavor component. However, it is still a processed ingredient, which may not offer the same benefits as whole fruit.
Role in formula: base
Original: Pear Puree Concentrate
-
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 in this product. While it helps achieve the desired texture, it is a processed ingredient that may raise concerns about its impact on digestion.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Modified Corn Starch
-
Is Fructose safe in this snack?
Bad
Fructose is used here as sweetener. Fructose is a simple sugar that can contribute to sweetness. Its high consumption is linked to various health issues, including insulin resistance and fatty liver disease.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Fructose
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this snack?
Bad
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a highly processed carbohydrate used as a thickener and sweetener. It has a high glycemic index and can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Maltodextrin
-
Is Palm Oil safe in this snack?
Bad
Palm Oil is used here as fat. Palm oil is a common ingredient in processed snacks, used for texture and shelf stability. Its production raises significant environmental concerns, including deforestation and habitat destruction.
Role in formula: fat
Original: Palm Oil
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this snack?
Medium
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is used to provide tartness and preserve freshness. While it is a natural preservative, its presence in high amounts can lead to digestive discomfort for some individuals.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: Citric Acid
-
Is Cottonseed Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Cottonseed Oil is used here as fat. Cottonseed oil is a vegetable oil used for texture. It is often refined and may contain residues from pesticides, raising concerns about its safety and quality.
Role in formula: fat
Original: Cottonseed Oil
-
Is Glycerin safe in this snack?
Medium
Glycerin is used here as humectant. Glycerin is used to retain moisture in the product. While it is generally recognized as safe, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: Glycerin
-
Is Carrageenan safe in this snack?
Bad
Carrageenan is used here as thickener. Carrageenan is a thickening agent derived from seaweed. It has been linked to digestive issues and inflammation in some studies, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Carrageenan
-
Is White Grape Juice Concentrate safe in this snack?
Medium
White Grape Juice Concentrate is used here as sweetener. White grape juice concentrate adds sweetness and flavor. While it is a fruit-derived ingredient, it is still processed and contributes to the overall sugar content.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: White Grape Juice Concentrate
Read the full ingredient profile for White Grape Juice Concentrate
-
Is Monoglycerides safe in this snack?
Medium
Monoglycerides is used here as emulsifier. Monoglycerides are used to stabilize the product's texture. They are derived from fats and can be processed, raising concerns about their health implications.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: Monoglycerides
-
Is Sodium Citrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Sodium Citrate is used here as buffer. Sodium citrate is used to regulate acidity in the product. While it is generally recognized as safe, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant benefits.
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 used to enhance tartness. It is a naturally occurring acid but is often synthesized for use in food products, raising questions about its processing.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: Malic Acid
-
Is Potassium Citrate safe in this snack?
Medium
Potassium Citrate is used here as buffer. Potassium citrate is used to regulate acidity. While it is generally safe, it is a processed ingredient that may not offer significant health benefits.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: Potassium Citrate
-
Is Vitamin C safe in this snack?
Good
Vitamin C is used here as antioxidant. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is included for its antioxidant properties. It helps protect cells from damage and supports overall health, contributing positively to the product's composition.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
-
Is Dextrose safe in this snack?
Bad
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a simple sugar that contributes to the sweetness of the product. Its high glycemic index raises concerns about blood sugar spikes and overall health implications.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Dextrose
-
Is Agar Agar safe in this snack?
Medium
Agar Agar is used here as thickener. Agar-agar is a natural thickening agent derived from seaweed. While it is generally safe, it is still a processed ingredient that may not provide significant nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Agar-Agar
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this snack?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor is used to enhance the taste of the product. However, the specific composition is often proprietary, raising questions about the quality and safety of these flavoring agents.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Natural Flavor
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this snack?
Medium
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a thickening agent that helps improve texture. While it is generally recognized as safe, it is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant health benefits.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Xanthan Gum
-
Is Color Red 40 Blue 1 safe in this snack?
Bad
Color Red 40 Blue 1 is used here as colorant. Red 40 and Blue 1 are artificial colorants used to enhance the visual appeal of the product. These synthetic dyes have been associated with potential health risks, including hyperactivity in children.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: Color (Red 40, Blue 1)
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: 2379380
More from this brand: Fruit Gushers products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack 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.