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Fudgsicle The Original Fudge Pops
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Frozen desserts

Fudgsicle The Original Fudge Pops

29.7 fl oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains sugar alcohols
  • Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
  • Contains palm oil
  • Contains artificial flavors
  • May contain traces of 1,4-dioxane
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Why it scores 20

Fudgsicle The Original Fudge Pops scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Malt syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Aspartame: Labels must warn people with phenylketonuria (PKU) because aspartame contains phenylalanine (US and EU). Regulatory
  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 ice cream bars and frozen treats

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

The Receipt

Fudgsicle The Original Fudge Pops

START100

Ingredients

  • Malt syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Aspartame
    Regulatory Labels must warn people with phenylketonuria (PKU) because aspartame contains phenylalanine (US and EU). [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][2]
  • Caramel color
    Regulatory The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. [12][13][14][15]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [16]
  • 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, color (added), emulsifier, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, non-nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol (polyol) and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [16]
subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 5.9 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 1.3 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some saturated fat. [17]
subtotal−4
TOTAL 20Poor

100 − 80 = 20

Can’t score above 79. Contains malt syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

GTIN 00077567001580 · 2026-08-17

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy101 kcal
Fat2.1 g
Saturated fat1.3 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates23.5 g
Sugars5.9 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0.8 g
Protein3.4 g
Salt0.3 g

Serving: 1 fudgesicle (39.67 g)

Ingredients

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

NONFAT MILK, MALTODEXTRIN (CORN), SORBITOL, POLYDEXTROSE, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, LESS THAN 2% OF: WHEY, PALM OIL, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CELLULOSE GEL, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, CELLULOSE GUM, MALTED BARLEY EXTRACT, SALT, GUAR GUM, ASPARTAME*, CITRIC ACID, POLYSORBATE 80, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, POLYSORBATE 65, CARRAGEENAN, LOCUST BEAN GUM, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, CARAMEL COLOR, *PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Gluten

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest frozen desserts in the US

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. 21 CFR 172.804 Aspartame

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Mar 24, 2023 · Law

    “PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE”

    ecfr.gov

  5. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.3 (aspartame)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘contains a source of phenylalanine’ shall appear on the label in cases where aspartame/aspartame-acesulfame salt is designated in the list of ingredients by its specific name.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  6. Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released (IARC, WHO and FAO joint news release)

    World Health Organization · Jul 14, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “Citing “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B) and JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight.”

    who.int

  7. Carcinogenicity of aspartame, methyleugenol, and isoeugenol (IARC Monographs Vol. 134 working group summary)

    The Lancet Oncology · August 2023 · IARC

    doi.org

  8. Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Feb 27, 2025 · Regulator

    “The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans.”

    fda.gov

  9. EFSA completes full risk assessment on aspartame and concludes it is safe at current levels of exposure

    European Food Safety Authority · Dec 10, 2013 · Agency assessment

    “Aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure”

    efsa.europa.eu

  10. Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study

    PLOS Medicine · Mar 24, 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”

    doi.org

  11. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

    World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”

    who.int

  12. Questions & Answers About 4-MEI

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 27, 2020 · Regulator

    “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

  13. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  14. Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

    PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  15. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  17. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  21. 21 CFR 184.1835 Sorbitol

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Nov 22, 2016 · Law

    ““Excess consumption may have a laxative effect.””

    ecfr.gov

  22. Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome

    Nature · Mar 5, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  23. Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

    Gastroenterology · March 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  24. Food additive emulsifiers and risk of cardiovascular disease in the NutriNet-Santé cohort: prospective cohort study

    BMJ · Sep 6, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  25. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  26. 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics: A Manufacturing Byproduct

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “1,4-dioxane forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing process of certain cosmetic ingredients.”

    fda.gov