Jelly beans
Jelly Belly 49 Flavors Jelly Beans
2 lb
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains caffeine
- Contains artificial flavors
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 9
Jelly Belly 49 Flavors Jelly Beans 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 Corn syrup: 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
-
Yellowstone National Park wild Huckleberry Jelly Beans Less sugar · No caffeine Score 29 out of 100 , 20 points higher -
Cheri's desert harvest, prickly pear cactus jelly candies Cheri's Desert Harvest · 238 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 26 out of 100 , 17 points higher -
Best Choice Candy Shop Jelly Beans Best Choice Less sugar · No caffeine Score 26 out of 100 , 17 points higher -
Sugar free jelly beans Russell Stover · 7 oz/198 g Less sugar · No added sugars Score 24 out of 100 , 15 points higher -
Squeezable Jelly Candy Ricky Joy Not ultra-processed · Less sugar Score 26 out of 100 , 17 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
49 Flavors Jelly Beans
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 70 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Energy 350 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 91.5 = 8.5 → 9
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 | 350 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 92.5 g |
| Sugars | 70 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 35 PIECES (40 g)
Ingredients
- SUGAR (high concern)
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- MODIFIED FOOD STARCH
- PEACH PUREE CONCENTRATE
- BLACKBERRY PUREE
- STRAWBERRY PUREE
- BLUEBERRY PUREE
- RASPBERRY PUREE
- STRAWBERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE
- APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE (high concern)
- BANANA PUREE
- PLUM JUICE CONCENTRATE
- CHERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE
- CHOCOLATE LIQUOR
- COCOA BUTTER
- SOY LECITHIN (AN EMULSIFIER)
- COCONUT
- LEMON PUREE
- ORANGE PUREE
- LIME JUICE CONCENTRATE
- TANGERINE JUICE CONCENTRATE
- WATERMELON JUICE CONCENTRATE
- GRAPEFRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE
- PINEAPPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE (high concern)
- CANTALOUPE JUICE CONCENTRATE
- POMEGRANATE JUICE CONCENTRATE
- PEAR JUICE CONCENTRATE (high concern)
- KIWI JUICE CONCENTRATE
- MANGO PUREE
- MANGO JUICE CONCENTRATE
- PASSION FRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE
- CITRIC ACID
- FUMARIC ACID
- LACTIC ACID
- MALIC ACID
- PHOSPHORIC ACID
- ASCORBIC ACID
- SODIUM LACTATE
- SODIUM CITRATE
- COCOA POWDER
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
- COFFEE
- COLOR ADDED
- RED 40 LAKE (high concern)
- YELLOW 5 & 6 LAKE (high concern)
- BLUE 1 & 2 LAKE (moderate concern)
- YELLOW 5 & 6 (high concern)
- RED 40 (high concern)
- BLUE 1 (moderate concern)
- TAPIOCA DEXTRIN
- VANILLA BEANS
- BEESWAX
- CARNAUBA WAX
- CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE
- SALT
- CAFFEINE
Label text, as published
SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: PEACH PUREE CONCENTRATE, BLACKBERRY PUREE, STRAWBERRY PUREE, BLUEBERRY PUREE, RASPBERRY PUREE, STRAWBERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE, APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, BANANA PUREE, PLUM JUICE CONCENTRATE, CHERRY JUICE CONCENTRATE, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN (AN EMULSIFIER), COCONUT, LEMON PUREE, ORANGE PUREE, LIME JUICE CONCENTRATE, TANGERINE JUICE CONCENTRATE, WATERMELON JUICE CONCENTRATE, GRAPEFRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE, PINEAPPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, CANTALOUPE JUICE CONCENTRATE, POMEGRANATE JUICE CONCENTRATE, PEAR JUICE CONCENTRATE, KIWI JUICE CONCENTRATE, MANGO PUREE, MANGO JUICE CONCENTRATE, PASSION FRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID, FUMARIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, MALIC ACID, PHOSPHORIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID, SODIUM LACTATE, SODIUM CITRATE, COCOA POWDER, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, COFFEE, COLOR ADDED, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 & 6 LAKE, BLUE 1 & 2 LAKE, YELLOW 5 & 6, RED 40, BLUE 1, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, VANILLA BEANS, BEESWAX, CARNAUBA WAX, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, SALT, CAFFEINE.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Tree nuts, Soy
- Not vegan
- 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
-
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
-
Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
“For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.”
fda.gov
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)
“‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”
eur-lex.europa.eu