Home › Ingredients › CEREAL BARS
TRADER JOE'S · 0/100 · Not approved
4 not-approved ingredients detected
| Ingredient | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Modified Food Starch | Not approved | Industrially modified starch (chemical, enzymatic, or physical processing — label rarely specifies which). Common GMO source (corn/wheat/tapioca), and several modification agents (propylene oxide, sodium hydroxide) are flagged in EU regulatory reviews. Editorial position: not what we'd stock. |
| Natural Flavor | Caution | Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency. |
| Canola Oil | Not approved | Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil". |
| Natural Flavors | Caution | Regulatory category permitting solvent extraction; composition not disclosed. |
| Milk Powder | Caution | Dehydrated milk; spray-drying can oxidize cholesterol. |
| Maltodextrin | Caution | Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar. |
| Soy Lecithin | Caution | Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic. |
| Carrageenan | Not approved | Linked in animal studies to gut inflammation; banned in EU infant formula. |
| Soybean Oil | Not approved | Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted. |
100 − 50×4 − 10×5 − 5×0 = 0
| Reason | Points | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Modified Food Starch | -50 | Industrially modified starch (chemical, enzymatic, or physical processing — label rarely specifies which). Common GMO source (corn/wheat/tapioca), and several modification agents (propylene oxide, sodium hydroxide) are flagged in EU regulatory reviews. Editorial position: not what we'd stock. |
| Canola Oil | -50 | Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil". |
| Carrageenan | -50 | Linked in animal studies to gut inflammation; banned in EU infant formula. |
| Soybean Oil | -50 | Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted. |
| Natural Flavor | -10 | Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency. |
| Natural Flavors | -10 | Regulatory category permitting solvent extraction; composition not disclosed. |
| Milk Powder | -10 | Dehydrated milk; spray-drying can oxidize cholesterol. |
| Maltodextrin | -10 | Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar. |
| Soy Lecithin | -10 | Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic. |
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Scores come from our ingredient rules — never from commissions.
SmartChoice checks every ingredient on a product against these same rules — point your camera at the barcode and get a verdict in seconds.
Get SmartChoice — free on iPhoneEducational information, not medical or dietary advice. Scores reflect what the label states, checked against our published rules. Labels change — always read the product’s own packaging.