Frosted Cherry Pop-Tarts

Why it’s rated Avoid

A product’s rating follows its most concerning indexed ingredient. Each ingredient links to its science card and the research behind it. How ratings work

• High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Refined Fructose Concentration / Hepatic Fat & Brain Insulin Resistance
  Avoid
• Soybean Oil Industrial Seed Oil / High Omega-6 Burden
  Avoid
• Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF) Petroleum Synthetic Dye / Adrenal & Behavior Stress
  Avoid
• Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF) Coal-Tar Synthetic Dye / Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration
  Avoid
• Red 40 (Allura Red AC) Petroleum Synthetic Dye / Neuro-Behavioral Disruption
  Avoid
• Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) Synthetic Petroleum Preservative / Immune Dysfunction
  Avoid
• Natural Flavors (Undisclosed) Proprietary Mixture Loophole
  Use Caution
• Caramel Color Some classes (III/IV) can contain 4-MEI, a possible carcinogen; the class is rarely disclosed.
  Use Caution
• Soy Lecithin Usually solvent-extracted from conventional soy. (Sunflower lecithin is the cleaner alternative.)
  Use Caution
• Food Gums (Xanthan, Guar, Gellan) Generally safe; some people find gums irritate digestion. Limit, not avoid.
  Use Caution
• Citric Acid (Manufactured / Mold-Derived) Fermentation Byproduct / Mold & Inflammatory Response
  Use Caution
• Corn Syrup Refined syrup (HFCS itself remains Avoid).
  Use Caution
• Dextrose Refined corn-derived sugar.
  Use Caution
• Sugar (Added) Added sugar — limit, not avoid.
  Use Caution
• Added Vitamins & Minerals Standard fortification nutrients — no toxic-burden concern.
  Clean
• Baking Soda Sodium bicarbonate — no concern.
  Clean
• Salt Everyday seasoning; no toxic-burden concern at normal use (sodium intake is a nutrition question, not a toxin).
  Clean