YumEarth Organics

This product receives a rating of 2 out of 5 green leaves. The YumEarth Organics Assorted Flavor Gummy Bears are organic and non-GMO, but they contain several ingredients that raise concerns regarding their healthfulness and cleanliness. Despite being organic, the gummy bears include added sugars and potentially harmful additives, which detract significantly from their overall score.

The use of organic rice syrup and organic cane sugar, while organic, contributes to the product’s sugar content. The presence of citric acid, although a common ingredient in many food products, is considered an added sugar in this assessment. Moreover, the inclusion of cane sugar, listed separately, results in a further deduction due to its classification as a harmful added sugar. These sugars contribute to the caloric content without providing any essential nutrients, which is why they are viewed unfavorably.

Additionally, the product contains natural flavors, a term that often encompasses a range of substances, some of which may not align with the goal of offering cleaner food options. While ‘natural flavors’ can originate from natural sources, the ambiguity surrounding their composition is a point of contention. The inclusion of corn starch, another common food additive, is also flagged for its potential harm, although it is a regularly used ingredient in various food products to improve texture.

The gummy bears are colored with concentrates derived from fruits and vegetables, which is a positive aspect as it avoids artificial colorings. However, the use of organic sunflower oil and organic carnauba wax, while not as detrimental as some other ingredients, still contributes to the overall additives count.

The product’s ingredient list reflects a mix of organic components and added sugars and additives that are deemed less desirable for a clean diet. The organic and non-GMO attributes are positive, but the inclusion of added sugars and ambiguous natural flavors suggests that there is room for improvement. To enhance the healthfulness and cleanliness of the gummy bears, replacing added sugars with natural fruit sweetness and providing more transparency around the term ‘natural flavors’ would be beneficial.