Gummi candies
Nerds Candy
32 oz
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 23
Nerds Candy scores 23 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points 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.
The Receipt
Nerds Candy
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Sugar 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
- Salt 1.3 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Protein 11.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 77 = 23
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Fat | 0 g |
|---|---|
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 11.1 g |
| Salt | 1.3 g |
Serving: 16 pieces (30 g)
Ingredients
- dextrose (high concern)
- sugar (high concern)
- corn syrup (high concern)
- gelatin
- modified corn starch
- malic acid
- citric acid
- sodium citrate apple juice concentrate (high concern)
- acacia (gum arab natural and artificial flavors, carnauba color added, red 40, yellow 5, red 40 lake yellow 5 lake, blue 2 lake, yellow 6, carme (color), blue 1, blue 1 lake. this product was manufactured in a facut and soy are used in the production of ther where milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts wheat manufactured by ferrara candy company products. chicago, il 60607 tm & ©2022 ferrara candy company all rights reserved. safety warning: small objects such as ha candies may inadvertently become lodged 154184 % dai fah 0% 2% 9%)
Label text, as published
dextrose, sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, modified corn starch, contains 2% or less of malic acid, citric acid, sodium citrate apple juice concentrate, acacia (gum arab natural and artificial flavors, carnauba color added, red 40, yellow 5, red 40 lake yellow 5 lake, blue 2 lake, yellow 6, carme (color), blue 1, blue 1 lake. this product was manufactured in a facut and soy are used in the production of ther where milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts wheat manufactured by ferrara candy company products. chicago, il 60607 tm & ©2022 ferrara candy company all rights reserved. safety warning: small objects such as ha candies may inadvertently become lodged 154184 % dai fah 0% 2% 9%
Allergens and diets
Contains: Peanuts, Tree nuts, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
Always check the package: recipes change.
More gummi candies on GoodSwap
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Fruit Snacks Welch's · 4.5 lb (2043 g) Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 10 out of 100 Bad -
Mixed Fruit Fruit Snacks Welch's · 2 lb, 40 × 0.8 oz pouches Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 10 out of 100 Bad -
Fruit Flavored Snacks Mixed Berry Simply Nature Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 15 out of 100 Bad -
Nerds Gummy Clusters Nerds · 3 oz (85 g) Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
Mott's Assorted Fruit Flavored Snacks 10 Count Mott's · 8 oz, 10 × 0.8 oz pouches Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains seed oils Score 9 out of 100 Bad -
Fruit by the Foot Berry Tie-Dye Fruit by the Foot · 4.5 oz (128 g), 6 × 0.75 oz (21 g) rolls Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedHigh in sugar Score 6 out of 100 Bad
More from Nerds
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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
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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
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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
-
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
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“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