Halloween Cookie Kit

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Artificial Flavors (Salt Artificial Flavor): Synthetic flavors indicate industrial food production.
• Corn-Based Sweeteners (High Fructose Corn Syrup Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Modified Starches (Modified Cornstarch, Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Chemical Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Artificial Colors (Yellow 6. Fd&C Yellow 5. Fo&C Bed #3. Fdsc Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, +2 more): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.

Within Baking Mixes, this product is more processed than about 55% of the 5,176 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 Halloween Cookie Kit'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.

Processed Fruit ProductsUPF marker

In this product: Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkal, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Chocolate.

Concentrates and extracts indicate significant processing.

EmulsifiersUPF marker

In this product: Acetylated Monoglycerides (Emulsifier)Polysorbate 60, Soy Lecithin, Polysorbate 60.

Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Cookie: Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Ascorbic Acid Added As A Dough Conditioner, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Enzyme, Folic Acid). Sugar, Oreo Mini Chocolate Sandwich Cookies: Unbleached Enriched Flour Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate Vitamin B1 , Riboflavin Vitamin B2], Folic Acid.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Oil Shortening (Palm Oil]Fractionated Palm Oil), Palm Oil Cornstarch, Palm Oil Soybean And/Or Canola Oil, Canola Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Invert Sugar, Icings: Sugar, Sugar, Artificial Flavor Halloween Confetti Quins: Icing Sugar (Sugar, Cornstarch).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Sodium Bicarbonate), Leavening (Baking Soda And/Or Calcium Phosphate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

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.