Lemon & Pepper Seasoning — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Lemon & Pepper Seasoning by P$T... DUMP — score 17/90.

Lemon & Pepper with no lemon in sight — the citrus is citric acid, mystery 'natural flavors', and Yellow 5 Lake dye painting it the right color. Salt is the first ingredient and there's sugar hiding in your pepper shaker. A cheap blend doing a lemon impression.

Why this verdict

• Yellow 5 Lake — a petroleum-derived azo dye used purely to fake a lemon color; linked to hyperactivity concerns and warning-labeled in the EU
• Zero actual lemon: the citrus effect is built from citric acid plus unspecified 'natural flavors'
• Salt is the #1 ingredient — the blend is primarily sodium delivery
• Added sugar in a savory seasoning shaker
• Artificial color in a spice blend is a classic ultra-processed signal — real lemon pepper needs neither dye nor sugar

Ingredients (7)

• Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
• Spices (black pepper, celery seed) (safe) — Genuine whole spices — the one good part of this blend.
• citric acid (safe) — Acidity and tartness adjuster.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• Silicon dioxide (anticaking agent) (moderate) — Keeps powder free-flowing; inert but a processing tell.
• Natural Flavors (safe) — Flavor compounds derived from natural sources.
• YELLOW 5 LAKE (concerning) — Tartrazine; associated with hyperactivity and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.