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MARKET PANTRY · 0/100 · Not approved
2 not-approved ingredients detected; 2 banned in at least one country
| Ingredient | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable Oil (unspecified) | Not approved | Generic label almost always refers to a blend of soybean, corn, or canola oil. |
| Maltodextrin | Caution | Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar. |
| Sugar (Refined) | Caution | Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener. |
| Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) | Caution | Emulsifier shown in 2022 NIH study to alter gut microbiota in humans. |
| Titanium Dioxide | Not approved | Banned as a food additive across the EU in 2022 after EFSA could not rule out genotoxicity from nanoparticles. |
| Xanthan Gum | Caution | Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals. |
| Natural Flavor | Caution | Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency. |
| Potassium Sorbate | Caution | Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin reactions; one of the better-tolerated synthetic preservatives. |
| Sodium Benzoate | Caution | Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen. |
| Corn Syrup | Caution | Refined glucose syrup from corn starch. |
| Caramel Color (generic) | Caution | Without a Class number, manufacturer-disclosed type is unknown; Class III/IV variants (most common in colas) contain 4-MeI, a California Prop 65 carcinogen. |
100 − 50×2 − 10×9 − 5×0 = 0
| Reason | Points | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable Oil (unspecified) | -50 | Generic label almost always refers to a blend of soybean, corn, or canola oil. |
| Titanium Dioxide | -50 | Banned as a food additive across the EU in 2022 after EFSA could not rule out genotoxicity from nanoparticles. |
| Maltodextrin | -10 | Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar. |
| Sugar (Refined) | -10 | Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener. |
| Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) | -10 | Emulsifier shown in 2022 NIH study to alter gut microbiota in humans. |
| Xanthan Gum | -10 | Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals. |
| Natural Flavor | -10 | Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency. |
| Potassium Sorbate | -10 | Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin reactions; one of the better-tolerated synthetic preservatives. |
| Sodium Benzoate | -10 | Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen. |
| Corn Syrup | -10 | Refined glucose syrup from corn starch. |
| Caramel Color (generic) | -10 | Without a Class number, manufacturer-disclosed type is unknown; Class III/IV variants (most common in colas) contain 4-MeI, a California Prop 65 carcinogen. |
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