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Halo Top Light Ice Cream Birthday Cake
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Ice creams

Halo Top Light Ice Cream Birthday Cake

1 PT/473 mL

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains sugar alcohols
  • Contains palm oil
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 32

Halo Top Light Ice Cream Birthday Cake scores 32 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, color (added), flavoring, humectant, industrial protein, non-nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol (polyol) and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better ice cream

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Light Ice Cream Birthday Cake

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Erythritol
    Strong A 2023 study linked higher blood erythritol to cardiovascular events and found it increased clotting activity; long-term safety studies are warranted. [4][5]
  • Milk protein concentrate / isolate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin)
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Glycerin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Whey protein concentrate / isolate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Gum arabic (acacia)
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [7][8][9]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [10][6]
  • Locust bean gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Guar gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Stevia (steviol glycosides)
    Emerging WHO (2023) recommends against using non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight (conditional recommendation); US dietary guidelines advise limiting them. [11][2]
subtotal−37.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [6]
  • 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, color (added), flavoring, humectant, industrial protein, non-nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol (polyol) and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [6]
subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 9.4 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 1.2 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some saturated fat. [7]
  • Salt 0.4 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [12]
  • Fiber 3.5 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [2]
subtotal−5
TOTAL 32Poor

100 − 68.5 = 31.5 → 32

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00858089003128 · 2026-10-08

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy118 kcal
Fat2.9 g
Saturated fat1.2 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates22.4 g
Sugars9.4 g
Added sugars4.7 g
Fiber3.5 g
Protein7.1 g
Salt0.4 g

Serving: 1 serving (85 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

SKIM MILK, EGGS, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CREAM, ERYTHRITOL, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, ACACIA GUM, RAINBOW SPRINKLES (SUGAR, CORN STARCH, PALM OIL AND PALM KERNEL OIL, TURMERIC (COLOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), VEGETABLE JUICES (COLOR), BETA CAROTENE (COLOR), NATURAL FLAVOR, SEA SALT, ORGANIC CAROB GUM, ORGANIC GUAR GUM, ORGANIC STEVIA LEAF EXTRACT.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Egg

  • Not vegan
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest ice creams in the US

More from Halo Top

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk

    Nature Medicine · March 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “Our findings reveal that erythritol is both associated with incident MACE risk and fosters enhanced thrombosis. Studies assessing the long-term safety of erythritol are warranted.”

    doi.org

  5. Re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as a food additive (plain language summary)

    European Food Safety Authority · Dec 20, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “In all groups of people, both acute and chronic exposure to erythritol is above the newly set ADI.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  6. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  8. Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods

    European Food Safety Authority · May 3, 2016 · Agency assessment

    “The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  9. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  10. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  11. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

    World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”

    who.int

  12. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  13. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  14. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  15. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  16. 21 CFR 184.1835 Sorbitol

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Nov 22, 2016 · Law

    ““Excess consumption may have a laxative effect.””

    ecfr.gov