Market Pantry Mixed Berry Fruit Snacks — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Market Pantry Mixed Berry Fruit Snacks by Market Pantry DUMP — score 17/90.

These are gummy candies dressed up as fruit. Corn syrup and sugar are the first two ingredients, the only fruit is apple juice concentrate used as a sweetener, and the berry flavor and color come from artificial flavors plus Red 40 and Blue 1. At roughly 50g of sugar per 100g, this is confectionery for kids, not a fruit serving.

Why this verdict

• Corn syrup and sugar are the first two ingredients — around 50g sugar per 100g
• Artificial dyes Red 40 and Blue 1 provide the berry color
• Natural and artificial flavors stand in for real fruit
• Only fruit content is apple juice concentrate, functioning as added sugar
• Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) with multiple stacked sweeteners

Ingredients (10)

• Corn Syrup (caution) — Second ingredient; a refined liquid sugar that binds the bar and drives the sugar total up.
• Sugar (moderate) — Small added sweetener to balance acidity; minor at salsa portions.
• APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE (caution) — Concentrated fruit sugar used as a sweetener.
• Gelatin (pork) (moderate) — Pork-derived gelling protein; excludes vegetarians and some diets.
• sorbitol (moderate) — Sugar alcohol used as a humectant; can cause GI upset in quantity.
• Natural and Artificial Flavors (moderate) — Includes synthetic flavoring; not a whole-food ingredient.
• WHITE MINERAL OIL (moderate) — Petroleum-derived coating agent used for shine and anti-stick.
• red 40 (avoid) — Artificial petroleum-derived dye with no purpose in a brown chocolate product; a decisive negative.
• blue 1 (avoid) — Artificial dye used to tune color; no nutritional role.
• citric acid (safe) — Mild acid for tartness and preservation.

Healthier alternatives

• Good & Gather Organic Unsweetened Applesauce
• Bare Baked Crunchy Apple Chips
• Kirkland Signature Organic Dried Mango
• Kirkland Signature Pecan Halves
• Kirkland Signature Supreme Whole Almonds