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TARTAR SAUCE

KROGER · 0/100 · Not approved

3 not-approved ingredients detected

What we flagged

IngredientVerdictWhy
Soybean Oil Not approved Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Sugar (Refined) Caution Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.
Xanthan Gum Caution Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Natural Flavors Caution Regulatory category permitting solvent extraction; composition not disclosed.
Polysorbate 80 Caution Synthetic surfactant; animal studies show gut microbiome disruption.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Not approved Industrially produced via enzymatic conversion of corn starch; strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction.
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.
Potassium Sorbate Caution Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin reactions; one of the better-tolerated synthetic preservatives.
EDTA (Calcium Disodium) Caution Chelating preservative used to prevent discoloration.
Natural Flavor Caution Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.

How the score was reached

100 − 50×3 − 10×7 − 5×0 = 0

ReasonPointsDetail
Soybean Oil -50 Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) -50 Industrially produced via enzymatic conversion of corn starch; strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction.
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.
Sugar (Refined) -10 Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.
Xanthan Gum -10 Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Natural Flavors -10 Regulatory category permitting solvent extraction; composition not disclosed.
Polysorbate 80 -10 Synthetic surfactant; animal studies show gut microbiome disruption.
Potassium Sorbate -10 Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin reactions; one of the better-tolerated synthetic preservatives.
EDTA (Calcium Disodium) -10 Chelating preservative used to prevent discoloration.
Natural Flavor -10 Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.

Ingredients

Soybean OilWaterrelishcucumbersSugar (Refined)VinegarSaltpeppersXanthan Gumalumcalcium chloridespicesNatural FlavorsPolysorbate 80High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)egg yolksModified Food Starchlemon juice concentratespiceOnionPotassium SorbatepreservativesEDTA (Calcium Disodium)Natural Flavor

Diets this fits

PescatarianGluten-freeDairy-free

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Educational 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.