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Swedish Fish Mini soft & chewy candy family size bag
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Candies

Swedish Fish Mini soft & chewy candy family size bag

816 g

Bad out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains artificial flavors
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Why it scores 15

Swedish Fish Mini soft & chewy candy family size bag scores 15 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Invert sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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 gummy and chewy candy

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Mini soft & chewy candy family size bag

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Invert sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Modified starch
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Mineral oil and paraffin (food)
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Natural and artificial flavors
    Strong The label does not disclose which flavoring substances are used. [5][2]
  • Carnauba wax
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
subtotal−47

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring, glazing agent, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and modified starch. [4]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 76.7 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Energy 367 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−16
TOTAL 15Bad

100 − 85.5 = 14.5 → 15

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]

GTIN 00070462005851 · 2025-06-09

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy367 kcal
Fat0 g
Carbohydrates90 g
Sugars76.7 g
Added sugars76.7 g
Protein0 g
Salt0.2 g

Serving: 12 pieces (30 g)

Recipe changed

  • Synthetic dyes removed

Compared with an older list (USDA FoodData Central). The current list is from March 2025.

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

sugar, invert sugar, cor syrup, modified corn starch, contains less than 2% of citric acid, white mineral oil, natural and artificial flavor, red carnauba wax.

Healthiest candies in the US

More from Swedish Fish

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  6. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  7. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  8. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org