Key Lime Dessert Bars

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Key Lime Dessert Bars scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Chemical Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Whey Protein): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Emulsifiers (Mono And Diglycerides): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.
• Other Additives (Monoglycerides): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate 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 Key Lime Dessert Bars' 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: Key Lime Filling (Corn Syrup, Sugar, Water, Sweet Condensed Milk [Milk, Skim Milk, Sugar], Palm Oil, Modified Food Starch, Lime Juice Concentrate), Sugar, Powdered Sugar (Sugar, Cornstarch), Coating Sugar (Dextrose, Cornstarch, Vegetable Shortening [Soybean Oil, Vegetable Mono And Diglycerides, Tocopherols {Vitamin E} And Vitamin C Palmitate As Antioxidants], Titanium Dioxide [Color], Artificial Flavor), and 1 more.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Margarine (Palm Oil, Water, Soybean Oil, Salt, Whey [From Milk], Mono Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Beta Carotene [Color], Vitamin A Palmitate Added), Palm Oil, Oil Of Lemon.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Sea Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E [To Preserve Freshness]).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.