Cake Pops

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Artificial Flavors (Natural & Artificial Flavor): Synthetic flavors indicate industrial food production.
• Artificial Colors (Red 40 Lake): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Chemical Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Natural Flavors (Vanilla): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

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

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Cake Mix (Sugar, Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Enriched With Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Vegetable Shortening [Soybean Oil, Vegetable Mono And Diglycerides, Propylene Glycol Ester, Soy Lecithin, Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Vitamin C Palmitate (As Antioxidants)], Nonfat Dry Milk, Leavening [Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate], Salt, Food Starch-Modified, Dried Whole Eggs, Artificial Flavor).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: White Compound (Sugar, Palm Kernel And Palm Oils, Whey Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Soy Lecithin [Emulsifier], Natural Flavor, Vanilla), Powdered Sugar (Sugar, Cornstarch), Decoration (Sugar, Cornstarch, Confectioner'S Glaze, Carnauba Wax), Color (Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Glycerin, Red 40, Sugar, Modified Food Starch, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan Gum, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate [Preservatives], Citric Acid).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Palm Shortening (Rbd Palm Oil, Emulsifier [Distilled Monoglycerides]).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.