Corn syrups
Mrs. Butterworth's Original Syrup
710 mL
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 6
Mrs. Butterworth's Original Syrup scores 6 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 , 58 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 , 58 points higher -
Maple Syrup Specialty Select Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Organic Maple Syrup Kirkland Signature · 1 L Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Maple Syrup Spring Tree · 8.5 fl oz Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 64 out of 100 , 58 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Original Syrup
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
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 73.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 0.7 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 367 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 94.5 = 5.5 → 6
Can’t score above 79. Contains high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][7][8][9][10]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 367 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 90 g |
| Sugars | 73.3 g |
| Added sugars | 73.3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.7 g |
Serving: 1 30ml (30 ml)
Ingredients
- HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- CORN SYRUP (high concern)
- WATER
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- SALT
- CANE SYRUP (high concern)
- CARAMEL COLOR (high concern)
- SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE
- SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES) (moderate concern)
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
- 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: CELLULOSE GUM, SALT, CANE SYRUP, CARAMEL COLOR, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, MOLASSES, LACTIC ACID, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES.
Allergens and diets
- Vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Pet 1 polyethylene terephthalate
Context only: no points in v1.
Sources
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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
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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
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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
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“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
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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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
-
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