Peanut Butter Cups

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Peanut Butter Cups 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.
• Artificial Flavors (Natural & Artificial Flavor): Synthetic flavors indicate industrial food production.
• Processed Fruit Products (Cocoa Powder): Concentrates and extracts indicate significant processing.

Within Breakfast Cereal, this product is more processed than about 77% of the 9,419 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 Peanut Butter Cups' 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, Peanut Butter (Peanuts, Sugar, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil [Cottonseed, Soybean And Rapeseed]*, Salt), Dextrose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Canola Oil, Coconut Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Caramel Color.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Trisodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Bht To Preserve Freshness. Vitamins & Minerals: Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and 4 more.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.