The Original Monster Cookies

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, The Original Monster Cookies scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (M&M'S (Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Artificial Flavor), Sugar, Less Than 2% Cornstarch, Corn Syrup, Coloring (Includes Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 6, Blue 2)Dextrin), Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Peanut Butter M&M'S (Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk, Chocolate, Milk Fat, Peanuts, Lactose, Salt, Soy Lecithin And Artificial Flavors), Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Partially Defatted Peanuts, Less Than 2 Percent Cornstarch, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Corn Syrup, Salt, Natural Flavor, Gum Acacia, Dextrin And Propyl Gallate, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 2, Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40 Lake)): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Vanilla Extract): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Cookies & Crackers, this product is more processed than about 51% of the 18,630 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 The Original Monster Cookies' 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: Peanut Butter (Roasted Peanuts, And Sugar, Contains 2% Or Less Of Molasses, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Soybean), Fully Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed And Soybean), Mono & Diglycerides And Salt), Sugar, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Baking Soda.

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.