Candies
Starbucks Marshmallow Dream Bar
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in saturated fat
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 4
Starbucks Marshmallow Dream Bar scores 4 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Dextrose: 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 marshmallows
-
Crispy Bar - Marshmallow ProT Edge · 1.63 oz Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 52 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Protein Treats Marshmallow Magic Spoon Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 62 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
S'Mallows Marshmallow Spread Choc Zero Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 72 out of 100 , 68 points higher -
Zero Sugar Max Mallow Max Mallow · 96 g Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 67 out of 100 , 63 points higher -
Max Mallow Max Mallow · 3.4 oz/96 g Less sugar · Less saturated fat Score 67 out of 100 , 63 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Marshmallow Dream Bar
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Brown 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 40 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Saturated fat 5.8 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 0.9 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 383 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 96.5 = 3.5 → 4
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 383 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 73.3 g |
| Sugars | 40 g |
| Added sugars | 28.4 g |
| Protein | 1.7 g |
| Salt | 0.9 g |
Serving: 1 bar (60 g)
Ingredients
- marshmallons (corn syrup sugar modified cornstarch, dextrose, water, gelatin, natural vanilla flavor tetrasodium pyrophosphate) (not recognized)
- crisp rice (rice, brown sugar, salt, distilled monoglycerides corn syrup salted butter, sugar, sea salt, maltodextrin, vanilla extract contains milk)
Label text, as published
marshmallons (corn syrup sugar modified cornstarch, dextrose, water, gelatin, natural vanilla flavor tetrasodium pyrophosphate), crisp rice (rice, brown sugar, salt, distilled monoglycerides corn syrup salted butter (cream [milk), salt), sugar, sea salt, maltodextrin, vanilla extract contains milk
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Not vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More candies on GoodSwap
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Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar Unreal · 15 g High in saturated fatContains added sugarsNo additivesSeed-oil free Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
Ice Breakers Cool Mint Hershey · 42 gr Ultra-processedContains sugar alcohols Score 72 out of 100 Good -
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Trader Joe's · 16 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarHigh in saturated fatContains added sugars Score 2 out of 100 Bad -
Wint O Green Life-Savers Mints · 6.25 oz Ultra-processedHigh in sugarContains added sugarsContains artificial flavors Score 21 out of 100 Poor -
Cherry Berry Ropes Joyride Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugars Score 37 out of 100 Poor -
Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Sour Patch Kids · 12 oz/340 g Not permitted in some countriesDye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processed Score 12 out of 100 Bad
More from Starbucks
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Doubleshot Energy Energy Coffee Beverage Starbucks · 15 oz Score 12 out of 100 Bad -
Eggs soude vide Starbucks · 21 oz Score 38 out of 100 Poor -
Frappuccino lite chilled coffee drink Starbucks · 9.5 fl oz Score 89 out of 100 Excellent -
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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
-
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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Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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