Syrups
Mrs.ButterWorth’s
24 fl oz/710 mL
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 9
Mrs.ButterWorth’s scores 9 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points High fructose corn syrup: 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 pancake and maple syrup
-
Maple Syrup Kirkland · 1000 mL Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Organic Maple Syrup Member's Mark · 32 fl oz/1 qt/946 mL Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Maple Syrup Specialty Select Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Organic Maple Syrup Kirkland Signature · 1 L Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Maple Syrup Spring Tree · 8.5 fl oz Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 55 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Mrs.ButterWorth’s
Ingredients
- High fructose corn syrup minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Invert sugar 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 73.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 0.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 367 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 91.5 = 8.5 → 9
Can’t score above 79. Contains high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 367 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 86.7 g |
| Sugars | 73.3 g |
| Added sugars | 73.3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.6 g |
Serving: 2 Tbsp (30 ml)
Ingredients
- high fructose corn syrup (high concern)
- corn syrup (high concern)
- water
- natural flavor
- cellulose gum (moderate concern)
- salt
- cane syrup (high concern)
- caramel color sodium hexametaphosphate sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives) (moderate concern)
- natural and artificial flavor
- citric acid
- molasses (high concern)
- lactic acid
- mono and diglycerides
Label text, as published
high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, contains 2% or less of: natural flavor, cellulose gum, salt, cane syrup, caramel color sodium hexametaphosphate sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, molasses, lactic acid, mono and diglycerides,
Allergens and diets
- 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
-
21 CFR 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup
“a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”
ecfr.gov
-
“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
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“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
-
“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
-
“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