Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Black Forest Gummy Bears ultra-processed?

Gummy bears Sold in the United States

Pack of Black Forest Gummy Bears

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 16 ingredients
  • 4 additives
  • Nutri-Score E

Less processed candies

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

sugar, corn syrup, apple juice, water, gelatin, citric acid, pectin, sodium citrate, coconut oil, natural flavors, fruit, vegetable color, carnuba wax, spirulina extract color, tumeric extract color, beta-carotine color

Additives: E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E428 Gelatine , E440 Pectins

As written on the pack

sugar, corn syrup, apple juice concentrate, water, gelatin, citric acid, pectin, sodium citrate, coconut oil, natural flavors, fruit and vegetable juice color, carnuba wax, spirulina extract color, tumeric extract color, beta-carotine color

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E428 Gelatine Gelatine is a gelling agent made from collagen in animal skin and bones.
  • E440 Pectins Pectins are gelling agents extracted from citrus peel or apple pomace.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
4 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Candies Products in the category "Candies" are at least group 3.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 12 gummy bears

From least to most processed, this one ranks 2nd. 100% of the gummy bears here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 12 gummy bears, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0041420080944, last edited 11 January 2025), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of E (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.