Food
Vegobears Santa Monica Fruity Gummy Bears
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains seed oils
- Certified organic
Why it scores 13
Vegobears Santa Monica Fruity Gummy Bears scores 13 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 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.
Better gummy and chewy candy
-
Fruity Gummy Bears Smart Sweets · 5.3 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 66 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Gummy Bears Kiss My Keto · 0.79 oz/22.5 g Less sugar · No added sugars Score 53 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Cinnamon Bears Smart Sweets Less sugar · No added sugars Score 61 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Gummy Worms Sweet & Sour Fruity Flavored Candies Trader Joe's · 5 oz Less sugar · No added sugars Score 60 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Santa gummy shishkeba Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 65 out of 100 , 52 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Santa Monica Fruity Gummy Bears
Ingredients
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Pectin minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
- Sunflower oil minus 1.5 points
- Carnauba wax minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 63.6 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 0.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Energy 318 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
100 − 87.5 = 12.5 → 13
Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 318 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 81.8 g |
| Sugars | 63.6 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.6 g |
Ingredients
- ORGANIC RICE SYRUP (high concern)
- ORGANIC CANE SUGAR (high concern)
- WATER
- PECTIN
- CITRIC ACID
- COLORED WITH ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICES
- NATURAL STRAWBERRY FLAVOR
- NATURAL PINEAPPLE FLAVOR
- NATURAL BANANA FLAVOR
- ORGANIC SUNFLOWER OIL
- ORGANIC CARNAUBA WAX
- CONTAINS WHEAT
Label text, as published
ORGANIC RICE SYRUP, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, WATER, PECTIN, CITRIC ACID, COLORED WITH ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICES, NATURAL STRAWBERRY FLAVOR, NATURAL PINEAPPLE FLAVOR, NATURAL BANANA FLAVOR, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC CARNAUBA WAX., CONTAINS WHEAT
Allergens and diets
Contains: Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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
-
“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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“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