Christmas Deluxe Mix — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Christmas Deluxe Mix by Jelly Belly DUMP — score 20/90.

An assorted holiday candy mix built on sugar, corn syrup and a stack of starches, emulsifiers and artificial flavors and colors. Pure NOVA 4 engineered confection.

Why this verdict

• Sugar and corn syrup are the top two ingredients - two distinct added sweeteners up front
• Loaded with industrial additives: modified food starch, tapioca dextrin, mono & diglycerides, soy lecithin
• Artificial flavors and artificial colors throughout
• Well over 18 ingredients across the assorted pieces - deeply processed NOVA 4
• Essentially pure sugar and fat with no redeeming nutrition

Ingredients (18)

• Sugar (moderate) — Added sugar sitting ahead of cocoa; the main flavor driver here.
• Corn Syrup (concerning) — Cheap glucose syrup; pure added sugar with no nutrition, here as the second-largest ingredient.
• Milk (safe) — Whole dairy milk, a natural source of protein, calcium, and fat.
• Cocoa Butter (safe) — Pure cocoa fat that gives the melt and mouthfeel; calorie-dense but a natural part of chocolate.
• CHOCOLATE LIQUOR (safe) — Ground cocoa - the actual chocolate. Trails sugar and syrup, so present in small amounts.
• Malted milk powder (barley, wheat, milk) (moderate) — Malt center base. Contains gluten; mostly carbohydrate.
• Malt Extract (moderate) — Another sugar source used for colour and sweetness.
• Coconut Oil (moderate) — Additional refined oil in the coating; high in saturated fat.
• Mono & diglycerides (concerning) — Processed-fat emulsifier, appears twice; a hidden source of trans fats.
• modified food starch (moderate) — Industrial thickener used to bulk and stabilize the sauce
• Tapioca dextrin (moderate) — Refined starch derivative used as a glaze/binder; rapidly digested carbohydrate.
• kosher gelatin (moderate) — Gelling agent for the gummy/jelly pieces.
• Pectin (safe) — Plant-based gelling agent in the fudge ribbon.
• Modified soy protein (moderate) — Processed protein isolate used as a texturizer in the mellocreme pieces.
• Soy Lecithin (moderate) — Common emulsifier in the brownie; mild but adds to the additive pile.
• Natural & Artificial Flavors (moderate) — Undisclosed flavor compounds, partly synthetic, used to mimic fruit and mint that aren't in the jar.
• Artificial Colors (concerning) — Synthetic dyes for the festive colors; linked to hyperactivity concerns in children and pure cosmetic value.
• APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE (moderate) — Used as a sweetener/flavor in jellied pieces - still concentrated sugar.