Home › Ingredients › SWEET & SALTY M&M'S MILK CHOCOLATE CANDIES, PEANUTS, PRETZEL
GOLD EMBLEM · 0/100 · Not approved
10 not-approved ingredients detected; 14 banned in at least one country
| Ingredient | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Soy Lecithin | Caution | Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic. |
| Sugar (Refined) | Caution | Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener. |
| Corn Syrup | Caution | Refined glucose syrup from corn starch. |
| Blue 1 Lake (Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake) | Not approved | Aluminum-salt form of Blue 1 used as a coating colorant. Carries the parent dye's history (banned in France/Norway/Finland until 2008 EU harmonization) plus aluminum exposure. |
| Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) | Not approved | Synthetic azo dye; mandatory warning label in the EU and was banned outright in Norway and Finland for decades. |
| Red 40 (Allura Red AC) | Not approved | Synthetic azo dye linked in studies to hyperactivity in children. Mandatory warning label in the EU. |
| Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) | Not approved | Synthetic azo dye associated with hyperactivity in sensitive children; mandatory warning label in the EU. |
| Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) | Not approved | Synthetic triarylmethane dye; was banned in France, Norway and Finland until 2008 EU harmonization. |
| Red 40 Lake (Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake) | Not approved | Aluminum-salt form of Red 40 used in coatings (candies, supplements, pills). Carries the same hyperactivity-in-children concerns as the parent dye and adds aluminum exposure. |
| Yellow 5 Lake (Tartrazine Aluminum Lake) | Not approved | Aluminum-salt form of Yellow 5 commonly found on candy shells, gum coatings, and capsule exteriors. Same EU mandatory warning label as the parent dye, plus added aluminum. |
| Canola Oil | Not approved | Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil". |
| Potassium Bromate | Not approved | IARC Group 2B carcinogen; banned in the EU, UK, Canada, Brazil, China, India and many others — still permitted in the US. |
| Sodium Benzoate | Caution | Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen. |
| Artificial Flavor | Not approved | Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds; no transparency about composition. |
100 − 50×10 − 10×4 − 5×0 = 0
| Reason | Points | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Blue 1 Lake (Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake) | -50 | Aluminum-salt form of Blue 1 used as a coating colorant. Carries the parent dye's history (banned in France/Norway/Finland until 2008 EU harmonization) plus aluminum exposure. |
| Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) | -50 | Synthetic azo dye; mandatory warning label in the EU and was banned outright in Norway and Finland for decades. |
| Red 40 (Allura Red AC) | -50 | Synthetic azo dye linked in studies to hyperactivity in children. Mandatory warning label in the EU. |
| Yellow 5 (Tartrazine) | -50 | Synthetic azo dye associated with hyperactivity in sensitive children; mandatory warning label in the EU. |
| Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) | -50 | Synthetic triarylmethane dye; was banned in France, Norway and Finland until 2008 EU harmonization. |
| Red 40 Lake (Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake) | -50 | Aluminum-salt form of Red 40 used in coatings (candies, supplements, pills). Carries the same hyperactivity-in-children concerns as the parent dye and adds aluminum exposure. |
| Yellow 5 Lake (Tartrazine Aluminum Lake) | -50 | Aluminum-salt form of Yellow 5 commonly found on candy shells, gum coatings, and capsule exteriors. Same EU mandatory warning label as the parent dye, plus added aluminum. |
| Canola Oil | -50 | Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil". |
| Potassium Bromate | -50 | IARC Group 2B carcinogen; banned in the EU, UK, Canada, Brazil, China, India and many others — still permitted in the US. |
| Artificial Flavor | -50 | Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds; no transparency about composition. |
| Soy Lecithin | -10 | Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic. |
| Sugar (Refined) | -10 | Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener. |
| Corn Syrup | -10 | Refined glucose syrup from corn starch. |
| Sodium Benzoate | -10 | Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen. |
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