Core Sweeteners and Juice Concentrates
The ingredient list for Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Fruit Snacks includes several sweeteners and fruit juice concentrates. Apple juice from concentrate is listed as the primary ingredient. Additional sweetness comes from corn syrup and sugar. These ingredients contribute to the sweet taste and chewy texture, and the combination results in a product with significant sugar content.
Texture and Structure Additives
The chewy texture is achieved using additives like gelatin, modified food starch, and pectin. Gelatin provides the bouncy consistency but makes the product unsuitable for vegan or vegetarian diets. Modified food starch and pectin also function as thickeners and gelling agents.
Flavor Enhancers and Acidity Regulators
The fruit flavors are delivered through natural flavors. To balance the sweetness and add a tartness, the snacks contain citric acid, lactic acid, sodium lactate, and sodium citrate. These ingredients contribute to the overall taste profile and regulate acidity.
Natural Coloring Agents and Glazes
Good & Gather fruit snacks use naturally derived colors instead of synthetic dyes. The colors come from sources such as spirulina extract, black carrot juice, paprika oleoresin, carrot juice, turmeric oleoresin, and blueberry juice. A coating of carnauba wax provides a glossy finish.
Comparison with Other Fruit Snacks
A comparison of Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Snacks ingredients with those often found in generic fruit snacks highlights differences in sweeteners, thickening agents, and particularly colors, where Good & Gather utilizes natural sources versus generic snacks that may use artificial dyes. For a detailed comparison, you can refer to the {Link: Target website https://www.target.com/p/mixed-fruit-fruit-flavored-snacks-8oz-10ct-good-38-gather-8482/-/A-87364376} and the {Link: Spoonful app https://spoonfulapp.com/products/good-gather-naturally-flavored-mixed-fruit-fruit-flavored-snacks/MDA4NTIzOTk5ODEwNg==}.
Conclusion: A Look at the Overall Composition
Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Fruit Snacks contain a blend of apple juice concentrate, natural colors, sweeteners like corn syrup and sugar, and texturizers such as gelatin. While free from synthetic dyes, they are still considered a processed food high in sugar. Gelatin makes them unsuitable for vegan or vegetarian diets. They are an option for those seeking a chewy snack with natural colors, but the sugar content warrants consideration. For further information on food product analysis, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers detailed reports on their website {Link: EWG.org https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/}.
