Frozen desserts
Good Humor Frozen Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Bars
6 - 3 fl oz (88 mL) bars, net 18 fl oz (352 mL)
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 9
Good Humor Frozen Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Bars scores 9 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Red 40: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Regulatory
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better ice cream bars and frozen treats
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Fruit Bars Strawberry Outshine · 14.7 fl oz/435 mL No banned ingredients · No EU warning-label dyes Score 48 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Strawberry goodpop Goodpop No banned ingredients · No EU warning-label dyes Score 49 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Strawberry Pops Chloe's · 10 fl oz/295 mL No banned ingredients · No EU warning-label dyes Score 64 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Spiderman Strawberry & Lemon Pops Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit Co. · 16 fl oz/443 mL No banned ingredients · No EU warning-label dyes Score 75 out of 100 , 66 points higher -
Outshine strawberry Fruit ice bar 3 oz Outshine · 3 oz No banned ingredients · No EU warning-label dyes Score 42 out of 100 , 33 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Frozen Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Bars
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Red 40 minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 15.8 g / 100 g minus 8 points
- Saturated fat 6.1 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Salt 0.3 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Energy 281 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 91 = 9
Can’t score above 25. Contains Red 3, whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [13]
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [21]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 281 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 15.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 6.1 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 33.3 g |
| Sugars | 15.8 g |
| Added sugars | 14 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 1.8 g |
| Salt | 0.3 g |
Serving: 1 portion (57 g)
Ingredients
- NONFAT MILK
- CAKE CRUNCH (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, PALM OIL, SALT, BAKING SODA, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SOYBEAN OIL, FD&C RED 40 LAKE, SOY LECITHIN)
- WATER
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- SOYBEAN OIL
- PALM OIL
- SUGAR (high concern)
- FRUCTOSE (high concern)
- COCONUT OIL
- WATER
- STRAWBERRY PUREE
- WHEY
- COCONUT
- MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES
- CITRIC ACID
- GUAR GUM
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
- LOCUST BEAN GUM
- TARA GUM
- RED 40 (high concern)
- SALT
- POLYSORBATE 80 (moderate concern)
- RED 3 (high concern)
- CARAMEL COLOR (high concern)
Label text, as published
NONFAT MILK, CAKE CRUNCH (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, PALM OIL, SALT, BAKING SODA, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SOYBEAN OIL, FD&C RED 40 LAKE, SOY LECITHIN), WATER, CORN SYRUP, SOYBEAN OIL, PALM OIL, SUGAR, FRUCTOSE, COCONUT OIL, LESS THAN 2% OF: WATER, STRAWBERRY PUREE, WHEY, COCONUT, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CITRIC ACID, GUAR GUM, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, LOCUST BEAN GUM, TARA GUM,RED 40, SALT, POLYSORBATE 80, RED 3, CARAMEL COLOR. CONTAINS COCONUT, MILK, SOY AND WHEAT.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Tree nuts, Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Not palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”
fda.gov
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”
fda.gov
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
-
“Studies in other animals or in humans did not show the same effect and there is no evidence showing FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in humans.”
fda.gov
-
“E 127 Erythrosine 200 only cocktail cherries and candied cherries”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
California AB 418 (2023), the California Food Safety Act (Health and Safety Code §109025)
“Commencing January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce a food product for human consumption that contains any of the following substances”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
“Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics: A Manufacturing Byproduct
“1,4-dioxane forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing process of certain cosmetic ingredients.”
fda.gov