YumEarth Organics

Rated at 2/5 green leaves, YumEarth Organics Organic Giggles® falls short of the clean food criteria established by our website. While the product boasts an organic label and non-GMO ingredients, it is tarnished by the inclusion of added sugars and potentially harmful additives. The presence of organic cane sugar and rice syrup contributes to its lower score, as these are added sugars that we aim to minimize in cleaner food options. The product also contains citric acid, which, although naturally occurring, is often used to preserve flavor and can be detrimental in excess.

Further scrutiny reveals the use of generic ‘organic flavors’ and sodium citrate, which raise concerns due to their ambiguous nature and potential side effects. Malic acid, another ingredient, is commonly added to processed foods to provide tartness but can be problematic in large quantities. The product’s use of organic palm oil is particularly troubling; despite its organic status, palm oil production is associated with environmental issues and the organic variant doesn’t fully mitigate these concerns.

Moreover, the use of colors derived from radish, sweet potato, carrot, blackcurrant, turmeric, and spirulina, while preferable to artificial colorants, doesn’t compensate for the other less desirable ingredients. The inclusion of organic carnauba wax and pectin, typically used as a coating or gelling agent, also does little to improve the product’s standing.

YumEarth Organics Organic Giggles® has ample room for improvement. To align more closely with the ideals of cleaner, healthier food options, the product would benefit from reducing added sugars and reevaluating the necessity of certain additives. By addressing these concerns, it could vastly improve its standing and offer a more wholesome choice for consumers seeking cleaner snacks in a market saturated with unhealthy alternatives.