Key findings
- 1Most pancake syrups contain zero actual maple syrup; the flavor is entirely synthetic
- 2The first two ingredients (corn syrup and HFCS) are both industrially produced from corn starch using enzymatic conversion
- 3Real maple syrup costs far more than pancake syrup because it requires about 40 gallons of sap per gallon of syrup
- 4In our analysis, pancake syrup averages a Processing Score of 7.7, which is Level 3
Why is Pancake Syrup Level 3 on average?
Pancake syrup is one of the clearest examples of a manufactured food mimicking a natural one. Mrs. Butterworth's and Pearl Milling Company syrups list corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup as the first two ingredients, where both are industrially produced from corn starch using enzymatic hydrolysis (alpha-amylase, glucoamylase) and glucose isomerase. The "maple" flavor comes from added natural and artificial flavors that mimic real maple syrup. Caramel color (produced by heating sugars with ammonium compounds) gives the amber appearance. Some brands add sodium hexametaphosphate (emulsifier) and potassium sorbate (preservative). The result is a short list of industrial ingredients with no maple in it. In our analysis, pancake syrup averages a Processing Score of 7.7, which is Level 3.
How 134 pancake syrup products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Pancake Syrup brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a pancake syrup label
- 1
If "corn syrup" or "high fructose corn syrup" is the first ingredient, it is not maple syrup
- 2
"Maple-flavored" or "pancake syrup" on the label means no significant maple content
- 3
Some "lite" versions replace some corn syrup with water and add artificial sweeteners
- 4
"Contains 2% or less of: natural and artificial flavors" confirms the maple flavor is synthetic
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Frequently asked questions
Does Mrs. Butterworth's contain real maple syrup?
No. Mrs. Butterworth's lists corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, and cellulose gum before any mention of "natural and artificial flavors." It contains no maple syrup.
Is "maple-flavored" syrup the same as maple syrup?
Not at all. "Maple-flavored" syrup is corn syrup with artificial maple flavoring and caramel color. Real maple syrup contains one ingredient: maple syrup. They are fundamentally different products despite similar shelf placement.
Why is pancake syrup so much cheaper than maple syrup?
Corn syrup is industrially produced in massive quantities from commodity corn. Real maple syrup requires tapping individual trees and boiling 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon. The labor and raw material costs are incomparable.