Ice Cream

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Artificial Colors (Red 40, Blue 1): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Industrial Enzymes (Lactase Enzyme*): Industrial enzyme use indicates significant processing.

Within Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts, this product is more processed than about 38% of the 14,928 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 Ice Cream'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.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Chocolate Crumble [Soybean Oil, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And/Or Cottonseed Oils, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Flour, Salt, Dextrose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, Powdered Sugar (Sugar Cornstarch), Vanillin].

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.