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HomeIngredients › PUMPKIN CEREAL BARS WITH VANILLA FILLING, PUMPKIN

PUMPKIN CEREAL BARS WITH VANILLA FILLING, PUMPKIN

MARKET PANTRY · 0/100 · Not approved

3 not-approved ingredients detected

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.
Milk Powder Caution Dehydrated milk; spray-drying can oxidize cholesterol.
Soy Lecithin Caution Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
Natural Flavor Caution Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
Brown Sugar Caution Refined sugar with molasses added back.
Corn Syrup Caution Refined glucose syrup from corn starch.
Sunflower Oil Not approved Refined seed oil; high-oleic variants slightly more stable but still industrially processed.
Maltodextrin Caution Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
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.
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) Caution Emulsifier shown in 2022 NIH study to alter gut microbiota in humans.
Xanthan Gum Caution Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Sodium Propionate Caution Mold inhibitor; similar to calcium propionate.

How the score was reached

100 − 50×3 − 10×10 − 5×0 = 0

ReasonPointsDetail
Soybean Oil -50 Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Sunflower Oil -50 Refined seed oil; high-oleic variants slightly more stable but still industrially processed.
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.
Milk Powder -10 Dehydrated milk; spray-drying can oxidize cholesterol.
Soy Lecithin -10 Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
Natural Flavor -10 Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
Brown Sugar -10 Refined sugar with molasses added back.
Corn Syrup -10 Refined glucose syrup from corn starch.
Maltodextrin -10 Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
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.
Sodium Propionate -10 Mold inhibitor; similar to calcium propionate.

Ingredients

vanilla flavored fillingSugar (Refined)Soybean OilMilk Powderwhey powderCornstarchSoy Lecithincolor [titanium dioxide]palm oilNatural FlavorWhole Wheat Flourcanolawhole rolled oatsBrown SugarCorn Syrupyogurt flavored coatingpalm kernel oilWheySkim Milkyogurt culture]nfat dry milk solidsglycerinRaisinspalmcottonseedSunflower Oilpumpkin powderpumpkinMaltodextrinWheat FlourSunflower Lecithinoat fiberEggsBaking Powdersodium acid pyrophosphatesodium bicarbonatemonocalcium phosphatecalcium sulfatespicesModified Food StarchSaltCarboxymethylcellulose (CMC)Xanthan GumSodium Propionatea preservativevitamins and mineralsvitamin a palmitatecalcium carbonateniacinamidereduced ironzinc oxidepyridoxine hydrochlorideribofl

Diets this fits

Pescatarian

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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.