DaVinci Gourmet Classic Blue Raspberry Syrup, 25.4 fl oz — DUMP
Munch or Dump rates DaVinci Gourmet Classic Blue Raspberry Syrup, 25.4 fl oz by DaVinci Gourmet DUMP — score 20/90.
This is sugar water wearing a lab coat: cane sugar first, then artificial flavor, two preservatives, and Blue 1 dye. 'Blue raspberry' isn't a fruit — there is zero raspberry anywhere in the bottle. Fine as an occasional slushie stunt, but nothing 'gourmet' is happening here.
Why this verdict
- Sugar is the first ingredient — the entire product is a concentrated sweetness delivery system, roughly two teaspoons of sugar per pump-sized serving
- Blue 1 artificial dye is purely cosmetic and one of the synthetic colors flagged for hyperactivity concerns in sensitive children
- Artificial flavor stands in for fruit — no juice, no raspberry, despite the fruit-forward name
- Double preservative system (sodium benzoate + potassium sorbate) marks this as a shelf-stable industrial formula
- Artificial color + artificial flavor + preservatives puts it squarely in NOVA 4 ultra-processed territory
Ingredients (7)
- Pure cane sugar (caution) — First ingredient. Each serving is a straight shot of added sugar with no redeeming nutrition.
- Water (safe) — The carrier.
- malic acid (safe) — Extra tartness for the fruit illusion.
- Natural and Artificial Flavor (caution) — This is the entire 'maple' — undisclosed flavor chemistry standing in for a real ingredient.
- sodium benzoate (caution) — Preservative; in acidic drinks it can form trace benzene when combined with vitamin C, and it's been linked to hyperactivity in combination with dyes.
- Potassium Sorbate (moderate) — Preservative — 'water' doesn't need preserving; a flavored soft drink does.
- Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) (avoid) — Synthetic petroleum-derived dye that exists purely to make the drink blue. Zero function beyond marketing.