Honey Raisin Bran Muffins — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Honey Raisin Bran Muffins by Baked Fresh Goodness DUMP — score 17/90.

Sugar is the #1 ingredient and it contains partially hydrogenated oils — industrial trans fat — making this a dessert dressed up as bran muffins.

Why this verdict

• Contains partially hydrogenated oils — industrial trans fat that raises heart-disease risk
• Sugar is the #1 ingredient, ahead of any grain or bran
• Base is enriched BLEACHED flour, not whole grain
• Stacked emulsifiers, modified starch, gums, and caramel color — heavily processed
• 470 calories and 31g sugar per muffin — a dessert, not breakfast

Ingredients (18)

• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (caution) — Chemically bleached refined flour — stripped grain, fast starch.
• eggs (safe) — Genuine brioche enrichment; a real ingredient doing real work.
• Soybean Oil (moderate) — Refined vegetable oil for body and mouthfeel.
• raisins (safe) — Dried grapes; naturally sweet, no added sugar in the raisin itself.
• honey (moderate) — A pure natural sweetener - roughly 80% sugars; clean but calorically dense, use sparingly.
• molasses (moderate) — A second sweetener for color and flavor. Minor, but it stacks on top of the sugar.
• WHEAT BRAN (safe) — Pure fibre from the outer grain layer, good for digestion.
• Modified Corn Starch (moderate) — Thickener/stabilizer that gives the sauce body.
• Partially Hydrogenated Soybean/Cottonseed/Canola Oils (harmful) — Source of artificial trans fat — raises LDL cholesterol and heart-disease risk; should not be in food.
• Mono- and Di-Glycerides (moderate) — Emulsifier that can hide trans fat; marker of industrial baking.
• Soy Lecithin (safe) — Common emulsifier, generally benign in these amounts.
• Propylene Glycol Monoesters of Fatty Acids (moderate) — Synthetic emulsifier for shelf-stable texture — purely industrial.
• Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (caution) — Dough and cream conditioner — another engineered emulsifier.
• caramel color (caution) — Artificial coloring for a browned look, no nutritional purpose.
• Guar Gum (moderate) — Used as a firming agent or conditioner; not necessary.
• Xanthan Gum (moderate) — Industrial thickener.
• Oats (topping) (safe) — Whole-grain topping — a small positive.