What Do Fruit Snacks Have in Them? Unpacking the Ingredients

January 2, 2026 •

4 min read

Despite being marketed as a healthy option, many popular fruit snacks are nutritionally more similar to candy than to whole fruit. They often contain a combination of high-fructose corn syrup, modified starches, and artificial additives, with only minimal processed fruit content, which can be misleading to consumers.

Quick Summary

The majority of fruit snacks are primarily composed of sugars, sweeteners like corn syrup, gelling agents such as gelatin, and artificial flavorings and colors. Though some contain a small amount of fruit puree, they lack the fiber and nutrients of whole fruit.

Key Points

Sugars are the primary ingredient: Most commercial fruit snacks are made primarily from corn syrup, sugar, and fruit juice concentrate, with added sugars often making up the bulk of the product.
'Real fruit' is mostly a marketing term: The claim 'made with real fruit' can be misleading, as it often refers to a small amount of heavily processed fruit puree or concentrate, not whole fruit.
Many contain gelatin: Most traditional gummy fruit snacks use gelatin, an animal-derived product, making them unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Loaded with additives: Artificial flavors, preservatives, food dyes (like Red 40), and waxes are common ingredients used to enhance flavor, appearance, and shelf life.
Minimal nutritional value: Unlike whole fruit, these snacks contain virtually no dietary fiber and are high in calories from sugar, despite often being fortified with vitamins as a marketing strategy.
Potential for harmful chemicals: Some additives, like specific food dyes and titanium dioxide, have raised health concerns and are even banned in other countries.

A Closer Look at the Primary Ingredients

Most commercial fruit snacks share a similar formula, which is designed for texture, shelf-stability, and a sweet flavor profile. When you look beyond the colorful packaging, you find a consistent list of processed components.

Sugars and Sweeteners

The most prominent ingredients in fruit snacks are typically different forms of sugar. These are almost always listed first on the nutrition label, indicating they make up the largest portion by weight.

Corn Syrup and Sugar: These are the base sweeteners that provide the bulk of the snack's energy and sweet taste.
Fruit Juice Concentrates: While the label might tout "made with real fruit," this often refers to fruit juice concentrates, which are essentially concentrated forms of sugar from fruit. The concentration process removes most of the fiber, vitamins, and minerals that make whole fruit healthy. Grape or apple juice concentrate are common choices.

Gelling Agents and Thickeners

These ingredients are what give fruit snacks their distinctive chewy, gummy texture.

Gelatin: Sourced from animal collagen, gelatin is a common gelling agent used to achieve the chewy consistency of many gummies. Because it is derived from animal products (often beef or pork), it makes these snacks unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Modified Corn Starch: This acts as another thickener and stabilizer, contributing to the snack's shape and texture.
Pectin: Some brands use pectin, a plant-based alternative, to achieve their gummy texture. These are often marketed as vegan-friendly options.

Flavors, Colors, and Coatings

To make fruit snacks appealing and flavorful, manufacturers use a range of additives.

Natural and Artificial Flavors: The actual flavor of a fruit snack is primarily derived from added flavors rather than the fruit puree. The packaging will often list both "natural" and "artificial" flavorings.
Food Dyes: The vibrant colors come from artificial dyes like Red 40, Blue 1, and Yellow 5, which have raised health concerns, particularly regarding their potential impact on children's behavior. Some brands use vegetable and fruit juice concentrates to color their products more naturally.
Carnauba Wax: A non-toxic wax derived from palm trees, this is used to give the fruit snacks a shiny coating and prevent them from sticking together in the package.

The “Real Fruit” Deception

Many consumers are led to believe that fruit snacks are a healthy, fruit-filled product, but this is often a marketing illusion. Claims like “made with real fruit” can be misleading because the quantity is often trivial, and the fruit component is heavily processed. Processing removes much of the beneficial fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants found in whole fruit. What remains is largely the concentrated sugar and a small amount of flavor and bulk.

Commercial Fruit Snack vs. Real Fruit: A Comparison


Feature	Commercial Fruit Snack (e.g., Welch's Mixed Fruit)	Whole Fruit (e.g., Medium Apple)
Main Ingredients	Corn Syrup, Sugar, Fruit Puree Concentrate	Water, Natural Fruit Sugars, Fiber, Nutrients
Sugar Content	High (e.g., 11g per serving)	Moderate (e.g., ~19g naturally occurring)
Dietary Fiber	None (or added fiber like chicory root extract)	High (e.g., ~4.4g)
Vitamins	Fortified (e.g., Vitamin C, A, E)	Naturally Present (e.g., Vitamin C)
Additives	Artificial and natural flavors, food dyes, gelatin, waxes	None
Processing	Highly processed to form shape and texture	Unprocessed, in its natural state

Reading Labels for Healthier Choices

To navigate the fruit snack aisle, it is important to know how to read the labels effectively. Start by examining the ingredients list. Look for brands that list actual whole fruit or fruit purees as the first ingredient, rather than various forms of sugar. Check the nutritional information for added sugars and be wary of products that are heavily fortified with synthetic vitamins, as this can be a tactic to mask the lack of genuine nutritional value. Some brands now offer products specifically made without gelatin or artificial dyes, catering to specific dietary needs. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides detailed information on specific products and their processing levels.

Conclusion: Making Informed Snacking Decisions

Understanding what fruit snacks have in them is key to making informed dietary choices. While they may be a convenient and tasty treat, they are not a substitute for real fruit and its inherent nutritional benefits, such as fiber and naturally occurring vitamins. By examining the ingredients, being critical of marketing claims, and seeking out truly fruit-based alternatives, consumers can make healthier choices for themselves and their families. The next time you reach for a pouch, take a moment to consider the list of ingredients and how they stack up against the benefits of real, whole fruit. For further information on misleading food marketing, see the Center for Science in the Public Interest's report on phony fruit snacks.

Taking Control of Your Snack Choices

Ultimately, the best approach is to view fruit snacks for what they are: a candy-like treat, not a health food. For a truly nutritious snack, consider whole fruits, dried fruit with no added sugar, or homemade fruit leather, which contains real, unprocessed fruit and retains its nutritional value. The information on the label is the most truthful resource available; a quick check can reveal if the product is a legitimate fruit-based snack or just a candy in disguise.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main ingredients are typically corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, and fruit juice concentrates. Gelling agents like gelatin are also standard in traditional gummy-style snacks.

Most fruit snacks are nutritionally comparable to candy. They are often high in sugar and low in dietary fiber and other nutrients found in whole fruit. The primary difference is often marketing and added vitamins.

No, this claim can be misleading. It typically means a small amount of processed fruit puree or juice concentrate was used. The processing removes most of the nutritional benefits of whole fruit.

The bright colors come from artificial food dyes like Red 40, Blue 1, and Yellow 5. Some brands use fruit and vegetable juice for natural coloring, but many rely on synthetic dyes.

No, most popular fruit snacks contain gelatin, which is an animal-derived product. However, some brands offer vegan versions that use plant-based gelling agents like pectin.

The glossy coating on many fruit snacks comes from carnauba wax, which is derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree. It prevents the snacks from sticking together.

Look for products with a short, recognizable ingredient list, with real fruit or fruit puree as one of the first items. Check the nutrition label for lower added sugar content and the absence of artificial dyes.