Gooey Butter Cake Mix

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Processed Fruit Products (Cocoa (Processed With Alkali)): Concentrates and extracts indicate significant processing.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Guar Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

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 Gooey Butter Cake Mix'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: Packet 1: Sugar, Maltodextrin, Artificial Flavor. Packet 2: Confectioner'S Sugar, Corn Starch (To Prevent Caking). Packet 3: Chocolate Powder (Sugar, Cocoa - Processed With Alkali, Unsweetened Chocolate, Soy Lecithin - An Emulsifier, Vanilla).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Enriched Bleached Flour (Bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Shortening (Contains Soybean Oil)With Emulsifier (Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Mono- And Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Aluminum Sulfate, Monocalcium Phosphate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Calcium Carbonate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.