Hostess Flavored Hard Candy Mix, Hostess

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Hostess Flavored Hard Candy Mix, Hostess scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Artificial Colors (Artificial Color (Titanium Dioxide), Red 40, Artificial Color Caramel): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor (Peppermint)): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Other Additives (Propylene Glycol): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.

Within Candy, this product is more processed than about 32% of the 21,778 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 Hostess Flavored Hard Candy Mix, Hostess' 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: Sugar, Blue 1 . Spearmint Starlight Ingredients: Glucose Syrup, Red 40 . Butterscotch Disc Ingredients: Glucose Syrup, Artificial Colors (Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Yellow 6). Assorted Fruit Disc Ingredients: Glucose Syrup, and 2 more.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sunflower Oil.

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: Malic Acid, Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.