Tres Leches Style Bar Cake

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Tres Leches Style Bar Cake scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Modified Fats (Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil): Hydrogenation and modification are UPF markers.
• Modified Starches (Modified Cornstarch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Artificial Colors (Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Emulsifiers (Mono- And Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Polyglycerol Esters Of Fatty Acids): Industrial emulsifiers indicate 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 Tres Leches Style Bar 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.

Processed Dairy IngredientsUPF marker

In this product: Sodium Caseinate.

Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.

Natural FlavorsUPF marker

In this product: Natural Flavor.

Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Stabilizers & GumsUPF marker

In this product: Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan.

Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Sugar, Strawberry Filling (Sugar, Strawberry Puree [Water, Strawberries], High Fructose Corn Syrup, Modified Cornstarch, Xanthan Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Red 40, Blue 1, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Preservative [Sodium Benzoate]).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour With Added Zinc (Flour, Niacin, Zinc Oxide, Iron As Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Dipotassium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: The Following: Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Calcium Carbonate, Baking Soda, Aluminum Sodium Sulfate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Iodized Salt, Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.