Why is Fruit Snacks classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product combines many industrial ingredients such as corn syrup, modified corn and tapioca starches, pork gelatin, and a suite of additives including citric acid (E330), lactic acid (E270), ascorbic acid (E300), pectin (E440a), carnauba wax (E903), annatto (E160b), turmeric, red 40 (E129) and blue 1, which together meet the criteria for an ultra‑processed food.

How does the sugar content in Fruit Snacks affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 44 g of sugars per 100 g, the candies can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making them unsuitable for people managing diabetes; the absence of salt means they do not add to hypertension risk, but the high sugar still poses overall health concerns.

Is Fruit Snacks suitable for vegan, gluten‑free, or halal diets?

The snack is gluten‑free but not vegan because it contains pork gelatin, and it is not halal for the same reason; it does meet the no‑preservatives claim and contains no wheat‑derived ingredients.

Welch's • 4.5 pounds (2043 grams)

Fruit Snacks

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Fruit Snacks by Welch's are a 4.5‑lb pack of fruit‑flavored gummy candies sold at Costco. They are ultra‑processed (NOVA group 4), contain pork gelatin, several food additives and 44.1 g of sugars per 100 g, giving them a Nutri‑Score of D, while remaining virtually fat‑ and salt‑free. Classified in the “Sugary snacks” PNNS group, they provide modest amounts of vitamins A, C and E from fruit puree, but the high added sugar and artificial colors diminish their nutritional value.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

low

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal308 kcal

Fat0 g

Carbohydrates74.9 g

Sugars44.1 g

Added Sugars155 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average sugary snack, this product has lower sugar (44 g vs 53 g per 100 g), virtually no fat, and no salt, yet its sugar level remains high.

Ingredients

FRUIT PUREE (GRAPE, PEACH, ORANGE, STRAWBERRY AND RASPBERRY), CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, PORK GELATIN, CONCORD GRAPE JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE, PECTIN, CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT), LACTIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, SODIUM CITRATE, COCONUT OIL, CARNAUBA WAX, ANNATTO (COLOR), TURMERIC (COLOR), RED 40, AND BLUE 1.

84%

35%

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