Lemon Crunch Bites

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Modified Fats (Vegetable Oil Flakes [Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil & Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, With Soybean Lecithin Added]): Hydrogenation and modification are UPF markers.
• Chemical Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Lemon Fruit Base [Corn Syrup, Lemon Peel, Sugar, Water, Modified Food Starch, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Citrus Pectin, Benzoate Of Soda, Potassium Sorbate Added As Preservatives, Xanthan Gum, Fd & C Yellow 5], Lemon Emulsion [Water, Propylene Glycol, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Guar Gum, Mono And Diglycerides, Preservatives (Propyl Gallate, Citric Acid), Yellow 5], Yellow Color ( Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Glycerene, Fd&C Yellow 5 (E 102), Sugar, Modifed Food Starch, Carrageenan, Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate (As Preservatives), Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid)): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

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 Lemon Crunch Bites' 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: Cake Mix [Sugar, Enriched Flour Bleached (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Soybean Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Mono And Diglycerides, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate), Modified Whey, Salt, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Sorbitan Monostearate, Calcium Acetate, Nonfat Milk, Xathan Gum, Guar Gum, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Vital Wheat Gluten, Polysorbate 60, Butter, Soy Flour, Egg], Margarine [Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Salt, Mono- & Diglycerides, Colored With Annatto & Turmeric, Calcium Disodium Edta Added As A Preservative, Artificial Flavor, Vitamin A Palmitate Added].

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Powdered Sugar (Sugar, Cornstarch), Sugar, Invert Sugar, Icing Stabilizer (Dextrose, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Agar Agar, Contains 2% Or Less Locust Bean Gum, Mono- & Diglycerides), and 1 more.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil, Natural & Artificial Lemon Oil.

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: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Titanium Dioxide.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Propionate.

Natural sources but industrial application.