Kool Aid

Awarded a green leaf rating of 2/5, the Kool Aid Lemonade Drink Mix Unsweetened falls short of the cleaner food criteria established by our website. This product does not meet the expectations for those seeking healthier, more natural options in their diet.

The product is not organic, which detracts significantly from its overall score. Organic products are generally favored for their lack of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which can be better for consumer health and the environment. Furthermore, the presence of GMOs in the Kool Aid Lemonade Drink Mix Unsweetened is a concern for consumers who prefer foods made with non-GMO ingredients, due to the ongoing debate over their long-term effects on health and biodiversity.

The inclusion of citric acid as an added sugar is another reason this product’s score suffers. While citric acid is a common food additive, often used for flavor or as a preservative, it is also a sugar that consumers looking for clean food options may wish to avoid.

The product also contains several additives that raise health concerns. Natural flavors, while seemingly innocuous, are penalized in our scoring system due to their lack of transparency, as they can encompass a wide range of substances that are not always specified. The presence of maltodextrin, BHA, and artificial color, specifically Yellow 5, further diminishes the product’s score. Maltodextrin is a highly processed ingredient that is often derived from GMO corn, BHA is a synthetic antioxidant that has been linked to health concerns, and artificial colors have been the subject of scrutiny for their potential effects on behavior and health.

This product has considerable room for improvement. It could benefit from a reformulation that includes organic ingredients, eliminates GMOs, and removes added sugars and controversial additives. By addressing these concerns, the product could provide a cleaner, more health-conscious choice for consumers.