Lemon Flavored King Cake

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Stabilizers & Gums (Agar-Agar, Carob Bean Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Emulsifiers (Mono- And Diglycerides): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.
• Other Additives (Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Propylene Glycol): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Natural Flavors (Vanilla Extract): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Industrial Enzymes (Enzymes): Industrial enzyme use indicates significant 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 Lemon Flavored King Cake'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: Sugar, Lemon Filling (Water, Corn Syrup, Food Starch-Modified, Palm Oil, Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Sunflower Lecithin, Monoglycerides, Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols, Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene [Color], Eggs, Lemon Juice Solids, Natural Flavors, Sodium Propionate [Preservative], Potassium Sorbate [Preservative], Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Fd&C Yellow 5, Polysorbate 60, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum), Maltodextrin, Dextrose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Margarine (Palm Oil, Water, Salt, Monoglycerides, Whey, Sodium Benzoate [Preservative], Natural And Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene [Color], Vitamin A Palmitate), Soybean Oil, Palm Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Monosodium Phosphate, Ammonium Sulfate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Tocopherols.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.