Authentic Smith Island Cake

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Authentic Smith Island Cake scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Natural Flavors (Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Processed Fruit Products (High Fat Cocoa): Concentrates and extracts indicate significant processing.

Within Cakes & Pastries, this product is more processed than about 16% of the 11,919 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Authentic Smith Island Cake's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Granulated Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Milk With Vitamin D3 Added.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt (Salt, Yellow Prussiate Of Soda).

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Calcium Sulfate, Mono Calcium Phosphate)Frosting: Confectioner'S Sugar (Sugar, Cornstarch).

Added minerals often compensate for processing.