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PATRIOTIC COOKIE WITH STARS, PATRIOTIC COOKIE

EMPIRE BAKERY COMMISSARY · 0/100 · Not approved

13 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.
Dextrose Caution Refined glucose, typically from corn.
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.
Soybean Oil Not approved Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Cottonseed Oil Not approved Byproduct of cotton industry; cotton is heavily sprayed and the oil retains pesticide residues.
Mono- and Diglycerides Caution Often contain trans fats below the 0.5g labeling threshold.
Polysorbate 60 Caution Synthetic surfactant.
Canola Oil Not approved Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil".
Corn Syrup Caution Refined glucose syrup from corn starch.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Not approved Industrially produced via enzymatic conversion of corn starch; strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction.
Titanium Dioxide Not approved Banned as a food additive across the EU in 2022 after EFSA could not rule out genotoxicity from nanoparticles.
Sodium Benzoate Caution Can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to form benzene, a Group 1 carcinogen.
Maltodextrin Caution Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Not approved Synthetic triarylmethane dye; was banned in France, Norway and Finland until 2008 EU harmonization.
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.
Red 3 (Erythrosine) Not approved Banned from US food (Jan 2025) and cosmetics (1990) after rat studies linked it to thyroid tumors.
Vegetable Oil (unspecified) Not approved Generic label almost always refers to a blend of soybean, corn, or canola oil.
Xanthan Gum Caution Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Artificial Flavors Not approved Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds.
Potassium Sorbate Caution Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin reactions; one of the better-tolerated synthetic preservatives.
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.
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.

How the score was reached

100 − 50×13 − 10×11 − 5×0 = 0

ReasonPointsDetail
Soybean Oil -50 Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Cottonseed Oil -50 Byproduct of cotton industry; cotton is heavily sprayed and the oil retains pesticide residues.
Canola Oil -50 Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil".
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) -50 Industrially produced via enzymatic conversion of corn starch; strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction.
Titanium Dioxide -50 Banned as a food additive across the EU in 2022 after EFSA could not rule out genotoxicity from nanoparticles.
Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) -50 Synthetic triarylmethane dye; was banned in France, Norway and Finland until 2008 EU harmonization.
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.
Red 3 (Erythrosine) -50 Banned from US food (Jan 2025) and cosmetics (1990) after rat studies linked it to thyroid tumors.
Vegetable Oil (unspecified) -50 Generic label almost always refers to a blend of soybean, corn, or canola oil.
Artificial Flavors -50 Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds.
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.
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.
Dextrose -10 Refined glucose, typically from corn.
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.
Mono- and Diglycerides -10 Often contain trans fats below the 0.5g labeling threshold.
Polysorbate 60 -10 Synthetic surfactant.
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.
Maltodextrin -10 Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
Xanthan Gum -10 Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Potassium Sorbate -10 Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin reactions; one of the better-tolerated synthetic preservatives.

Ingredients

ingredientscookie-enriched lourWheat Flourniacinreduced ipon thiamine mononitrateriboflavinpoic acidsugar chocolate chipsSugar (Refined)Chocolate LiquorCocoa ButterDextroseSoy LecithinNatural Flavorvegetable shorteningSoybean OilCottonseed Oileggs fructoseMolasseswater contains or less of leaveningbaking soda sodium aluminum phosphatemonocalcium phosphateSaltCornstarchnfat milk icing-sugar vegetable shorteningMono- and DiglyceridesPolysorbate 60palm oilCanola OilCorn SyrupHigh Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)water contains or less of saltCitric Acidalpha tocopherolTitanium Dioxidefor colorSodium BenzoatepreservativesMaltodextrinlocust bean gumBlue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)Red 40 (Allura Red AC)Red 40 Lake (Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake)Red 3 (Erythrosine)Guar GumVegetable Oil (unspecified)palmpalm kernelRice Flourconfectioner's glazedextrinXanthan GumcolorArtificial FlavorsPotassium Sorbatepreservativeartificial colorModified Food StarchYellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)

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.