SmartChoice

HomeIngredients › SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH PRETZEL-SHAPED COOKIE CENTER, SHORTB

SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH PRETZEL-SHAPED COOKIE CENTER, SHORTBREAD

MARKET PANTRY · 0/100 · Not approved

12 not-approved ingredients detected; 9 banned in at least one country

What we flagged

IngredientVerdictWhy
Sugar (Refined) Caution Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.
Soybean Oil Not approved Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Mono- and Diglycerides Caution Often contain trans fats below the 0.5g labeling threshold.
Artificial Flavor Not approved Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds; no transparency about composition.
Soy Lecithin Caution Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
Artificial Flavors Not approved Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds.
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Not approved Synthetic triarylmethane dye; was banned in France, Norway and Finland until 2008 EU harmonization.
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.
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) Not approved Synthetic indigoid dye; animal studies show tumor formation at high doses.
Red 3 (Erythrosine) Not approved Banned from US food (Jan 2025) and cosmetics (1990) after rat studies linked it to thyroid tumors.
Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Not approved Synthetic azo dye linked in studies to hyperactivity in children. Mandatory warning label in the EU.
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 (Tartrazine) Not approved Synthetic azo dye associated with hyperactivity in sensitive children; mandatory warning label in the EU.
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.
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.
Corn Syrup Caution Refined glucose syrup from corn starch.

How the score was reached

100 − 50×12 − 10×4 − 5×0 = 0

ReasonPointsDetail
Soybean Oil -50 Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Artificial Flavor -50 Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds; no transparency about composition.
Artificial Flavors -50 Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds.
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) -50 Synthetic triarylmethane dye; was banned in France, Norway and Finland until 2008 EU harmonization.
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.
Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine) -50 Synthetic indigoid dye; animal studies show tumor formation at high doses.
Red 3 (Erythrosine) -50 Banned from US food (Jan 2025) and cosmetics (1990) after rat studies linked it to thyroid tumors.
Red 40 (Allura Red AC) -50 Synthetic azo dye linked in studies to hyperactivity in children. Mandatory warning label in the EU.
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 (Tartrazine) -50 Synthetic azo dye associated with hyperactivity in sensitive children; mandatory warning label in the EU.
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.
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.
Sugar (Refined) -10 Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.
Mono- and Diglycerides -10 Often contain trans fats below the 0.5g labeling threshold.
Soy Lecithin -10 Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
Corn Syrup -10 Refined glucose syrup from corn starch.

Ingredients

Wheat Flourniacinreduced ironthiamine mononitrateriboflavinfolic acidSugar (Refined)palm oilmargarineWaterSoybean OilSaltMono- and Diglyceridesannatto [color]calcium disodium edta [preservative]Artificial Flavorvitamin a palmitatecoatingpalm kernel and palm oilCocoa Powdercocoa powder processed with alkalisorbitan tristearateSoy LecithinVanilla ExtractEggscontains or less ofArtificial FlavorsleaveningBaking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)sodium aluminum sulfateammonium bicarbonatemono-calcium phosphateCornstarchBlue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)Blue 1 Lake (Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake)Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine)blue 2 lakeRed 3 (Erythrosine)Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Red 40 Lake (Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake)Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)Yellow 5 Lake (Tartrazine Aluminum Lake)Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)yellow 6 lakeWheyconfectioner's glazecarnauba waxCorn Syrup

Diets this fits

Pescatarian

Where to buy

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Scores come from our ingredient rules — never from commissions.

Scan it instead of reading labels

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 iPhone

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.