Benton's Original Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies — DUMP

Name: Benton's Original Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies
Brand: Benton's

Munch or Dump rates Benton's Original Fudge Striped Shortbread Cookies by Benton's DUMP — score 17/90.

The fudge stripe rides on partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, a source of artificial trans fat that has no place in food. Layer on high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavor, and Yellow 5 dye over a refined white-flour base and this is industrial confection, not a kitchen cookie. It is a cheap Keebler dupe and it copies the worst parts of the formula.

Why this verdict

Contains partially hydrogenated oil — a source of artificial trans fat
High-fructose corn syrup plus sugar as a two-sweetener base
Artificial flavor and Yellow 5 synthetic dye
Enriched refined white flour with no whole grain
NOVA 4 ultra-processed with a hyper-palatable sugar/fat/starch triad

Ingredients (10)

PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL (avoid) — Source of artificial trans fat, which raises LDL and lowers HDL cholesterol. Unacceptable in any amount.
Enriched Flour (moderate) — Refined flour with some nutrients added back, lacks whole-grain benefits.
Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (caution) — The dominant sweetener and second ingredient; drives the sugar load.
Palm Oil (moderate) — Saturated-fat-heavy oil used in the crust.
cocoa processed with alkali (safe) — Dutched cocoa for chocolate flavor and color.
Artificial Flavor) (moderate) — Lab-made flavor doing the 'creme' work.
Yellow 5 (tartrazine) (caution) — Synthetic petroleum-derived dye linked to hyperactivity sensitivity in some children.
cornstarch (moderate) — Refined starch filler for crunch and shape.
Soy Lecithin (safe) — Common emulsifier, generally benign in these amounts.