Is Zero Sugar Hard Candy Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Jolly Rancher
This page reviews Zero Sugar Hard Candy by Jolly Rancher as a dessert. 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: Acesulfame Potassium, Artificial Color.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes isomalt and polyglycitol syrup as sugar substitutes, which are processed ingredients. Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener associated with potential health concerns. The presence of multiple artificial colors (Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 6) raises further quality and safety issues, indicating a highly processed product.
Main concern
Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener linked to health concerns, which lowers the overall quality of the product.
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 isomalt, a sugar substitute that provides sweetness without calories, appealing for sugar-conscious consumers.
- Polyglycitol syrup serves as a bulking agent, contributing to the candy's texture without adding sugar.
Concerns
- Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener linked to health concerns, which lowers the overall quality of the product.
- Multiple artificial colors (Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 6) indicate a highly processed composition, raising safety concerns.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this dessert and why it matters.
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Is Isomalt safe in this dessert?
Medium
Isomalt is used here as sweetener. Isomalt is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute in this candy. While it provides sweetness with fewer calories, it can cause digestive issues in some individuals when consumed in large amounts.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: ISOMALT
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Is Polyglycitol Syrup safe in this dessert?
Medium
Polyglycitol Syrup is used here as sweetener. Polyglycitol syrup is a sugar substitute that adds bulk and sweetness to the candy. It is derived from corn and can have a laxative effect if consumed excessively, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: POLYGLYCITOL SYRUP
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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 provides tartness to the candy. It is generally recognized as safe and contributes to flavor enhancement without significant safety concerns.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: MALIC ACID
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Is Natural Artificial Flavor safe in this dessert?
Medium
Natural Artificial Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural and artificial flavors are used to enhance the taste of the candy. While natural flavors are derived from food sources, artificial flavors may raise quality concerns due to their synthetic nature.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: NATURAL & ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR
Read the full ingredient profile for Natural Artificial Flavor
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Is Acesulfame Potassium safe in this dessert?
Bad
Acesulfame Potassium is used here as sweetener. Acesulfame potassium is an artificial sweetener used to enhance sweetness without calories. It has been associated with potential health risks, which significantly lowers the product's quality.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: ACESULFAME POTASSIUM
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Is Lecithin safe in this dessert?
Medium
Lecithin is used here as emulsifier. Lecithin, derived from soy, acts as an emulsifier to maintain texture in the candy. While it is a common ingredient, concerns about soy allergies may affect its safety for some consumers.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: LECITHIN (SOY)
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Is Artificial Color safe in this dessert?
Bad
Artificial Color is used here as colorant. Artificial colors such as Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, and Yellow 6 are used to enhance the visual appeal of the candy. These synthetic dyes have been linked to various health concerns, raising quality issues.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: ARTIFICIAL COLOR (YELLOW 5, RED 40, BLUE 1, YELLOW 6)
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: 2356422
More from this brand: Jolly Rancher products in Zerotox
Similar products: dessert in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.