Candies
Mondelez Sour Patch Kids
99 g
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 12
Mondelez Sour Patch Kids scores 12 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 Invert sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- 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 gummy and chewy candy
-
Smart sweets sour blast buddies Smart Sweets · 1.8 oz/50 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 62 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Sour Gummy Worms Joyride · 5.4 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 67 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Sour Gummy Worms Tart 'n Tasty Fruit Flavors Lily's · 51 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 60 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Variety Pack Sour Gummy Candy Shameless Snacks · 5.5 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 50 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Sour Blast Buddies Smart Sweets No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 61 out of 100 , 49 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Sour Patch Kids
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Invert sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 80 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Energy 367 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 88.5 = 11.5 → 12
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 367 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 90 g |
| Sugars | 80 g |
| Added sugars | 80 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.2 g |
Serving: 12 pieces (30 g)
Ingredients
- SUGAR (high concern)
- INVERT SUGAR (high concern)
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- MODIFIED CORN STARCH
- TARTARIC ACID
- CITRIC ACID
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR
- YELLOW 6 (high concern)
- RED 40 (high concern)
- YELLOW 5 (high concern)
- BLUE 1 (moderate concern)
Label text, as published
SUGAR, INVERT SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF TARTARIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, YELLOW 6, RED 40, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1.
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Cardboard
Context only: no points in v1.
More candies on GoodSwap
-
Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar Unreal · 15 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
Ice Breakers Cool Mint Hershey · 42 gr Ultra-processedContains sugar alcohols Score 72 out of 100 Good -
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Trader Joe's · 16 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 2 out of 100 Bad -
Sour Blue Raspberry Strips Joyride · 3.5 oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsNo synthetic dyes Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Sour Pink Lemonade Strips Joyride Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsNo synthetic dyes Score 39 out of 100 Poor -
Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Sour Patch · 8 oz Not permitted in some countriesDye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processed Score 11 out of 100 Bad
More from Mondelez
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
-
21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5
“shall specifically declare the presence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 by listing the color additive as FD&C Yellow No. 5 among the list of ingredients.”
ecfr.gov
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
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