Tic Tac Flavored Mints (Fruit Adventure) — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Tic Tac Flavored Mints (Fruit Adventure) by Ferrero U.S.A. Incorporated DUMP — score 17/90.

Sugar is the #1 ingredient and these are basically tiny sugar pills dressed up as fruit, finished with three artificial dyes and artificial flavors.

Why this verdict

• Sugar is the first and dominant ingredient
• Three artificial colors: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1
• Artificial flavors do the heavy lifting, not real fruit
• NOVA 4 ultra-processed with dextrin, rice starch and stacked acids
• 'Fruit' is trace acerola/apple extract way down the list

Ingredients (14)

• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• dextrin (moderate) — Starch-derived coating agent for browning and crunch.
• rice starch (moderate) — Another refined starch adding to the carbohydrate base.
• Tartaric Acid (safe) — Second acidulant sharpening the fruit illusion.
• gum arabic (safe) — Natural gum used to bind seasoning to the chip.
• malic acid (safe) — Tartness, contributes the sour note.
• Artificial Flavors (moderate) — Synthetic flavoring; the reason this counts as a flavored coffee.
• MAGNESIUM STEARATE (moderate) — Anti-caking/flow agent; harmless in these amounts but a processing tell.
• Dried acerola extract (safe) — Trace fruit extract used for label appeal, not nutrition.
• Dried green apple (safe) — Trace dried fruit far down the list.
• carnauba wax (safe) — Plant wax used to keep the bears from sticking.
• Yellow 5 (tartrazine) (caution) — Synthetic petroleum-derived dye linked to hyperactivity sensitivity in some children.
• 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.