Food
Tums Assorted Berries Chewy Bites
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains parabens
- Contains added sugars
- Contains sugar alcohols
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 24
Tums Assorted Berries Chewy Bites scores 24 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Red 40: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Regulatory
- 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
Tums Assorted Berries Chewy Bites
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Red 40 minus 20 points
- Yellow 5 minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 9 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
100 − 76 = 24
Can’t score above 25. Contains titanium dioxide, which is banned in food in the EU. [12]
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Added sugars | 0.7 g |
|---|
Ingredients
- Active ingredients calcium carbonate USP 750mg. inactive ingredients acacia gum
- alcohol
- ammonium hydroxide
- beeswax
- caprylic/capric triglycerides
- carmine
- carnauba wax
- citric acid
- coconut oil
- corn starch
- corn syrup (high concern)
- dextrin
- ethyl acetate
- drug facts (continued) en alcohol
- fd (not recognized)
- c blue #1 alum lake (moderate concern)
- fd (not recognized)
- c blue #2 alum lake (moderate concern)
- fd (not recognized)
- c teg #40 (not recognized)
- fd (not recognized)
- c red #40 alum lake (high concern)
- fd (not recognized)
- c yellow #5 alum lake (tartrazine) (high concern)
- fo (not recognized)
- c yellow #6 (high concern)
- fd (not recognized)
- c yellow #6 alum lake (high concern)
- flavors
- gum arabic
- isopropyl alcohol
- maltodextrin
- methyl paraben
- modified corn starch
- n-butyl alcohol
- phosphoric acid
- pvp
- propyl paraben (moderate concern)
- propylene glycol
- purified water
- shelliac (not recognized)
- sodium benzoate (moderate concern)
- sorbic acid
- sorbitol
- soy bean oil
- soy lecithin
- suctose (not recognized)
- tbhq
- titanium dioxide (high concern)
- triacetin
- vegetable oil
Label text, as published
Active ingredients calcium carbonate USP 750mg. inactive ingredients acacia gum, alcohol, ammonium hydroxide, beeswax, caprylic/capric triglycerides, carmine, carnauba wax, citric acid, coconut oil, corn starch, corn syrup, dextrin, ethyl acetate, drug facts (continued) en alcohol, fd,c blue #1 alum lake, fd,c blue #2 alum lake, fd,c teg #40, fd,c red #40 alum lake, fd,c yellow #5 alum lake (tartrazine), fo,c yellow #6, fd,c yellow #6 alum lake, flavors, gum arabic, isopropyl alcohol, maltodextrin, methyl paraben, modified corn starch, n-butyl alcohol, phosphoric acid, pvp, propyl paraben, propylene glycol, purified water, shelliac, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, sorbitol, soy bean oil, soy lecithin, suctose, tbhq, titanium dioxide, triacetin, vegetable oil
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
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
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Titanium dioxide: E171 no longer considered safe when used as a food additive
“the Panel concluded that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“Considering the very low oral absorption of INS 171, and in the absence of any identifiable hazard associated with INS 171 in the diet, the Committee reaffirmed the ADI “not specified” established at the Thirteenth meeting.”
who.int
-
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a food additive: Current science report
“In summary, the Food Directorate's position is that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that the food additive TiO2 is a concern for human health.”
canada.ca
-
Statement on the safety of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a Food Additive (COT/2024/05)
“The Committee concludes that it is unlikely that there would be a risk to health from exposures of E171 TiO2 from the diet in any of the age groups or scenarios assessed.”
cot.food.gov.uk
-
Titanium Dioxide as a Color Additive in Foods
“Other international regulatory bodies including the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have not agreed with EFSA’s assessment.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”
federalregister.gov
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
-
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
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
-
“for these compounds, the human risk cannot be evaluated.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“butylparaben and propylparaben should be prohibited in leave-on cosmetic products designed for application on the nappy area of children below three years.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
California AB 2762 (2020), Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (Health and Safety Code §108980)
“Commencing January 1, 2025, no person or entity shall manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce any cosmetic product that contains any of the following intentionally added ingredients”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)
“‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org