Salted Caramel Pretzel, Salted Caramel

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Salted Caramel Pretzel, Salted Caramel 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.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Salted Caramel Ribbon [Corn Syrup, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Nonfat Dry Milk, Butter (Cream, Salt), Salt, Sodium Alginate, Sea Salt, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Natural Flavor, Baking Soda], Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum, +2 more): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Emulsifiers (Mono And Diglycerides, Polysorbate 80): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

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 Salted Caramel Pretzel, Salted Caramel'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, Maltodextrin.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Chocolate Flavor Coated Pretzels (Milk Chocolate Coating [Sugar, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Anhydrous Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla], Pretzels [Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Salt, Less Than 2% Of Canola Oil And/Or Soybean Oil, Corn Syrup, Barley Malt Extract, Leavening (Contains One Or More Of: Yeast, Sodium Bicarbonate, Ammonium Bicarbonate), Caramel Color], Salt).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Calcium Sulfate, Sodium Citrate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Caramel Color, Annatto.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Baking Soda.

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.