Truelabel

Count Chocula Treats Bars Choc Marshmallow

by General Mills

This is an ultra-processed snack bar loaded with multiple forms of sugar, artificial colors, and inflammatory seed oils. Despite vitamin fortification, it's essentially candy masquerading as a cereal bar with concerning additives like BHT and artificial dyes linked to behavioral issues in children.

  • WHOLE GRAIN CORN – safe · A whole grain providing some fiber and nutrients, though heavily processed in this application.
  • SUGAR – controversial · Appears multiple times throughout the ingredient list, contributing to excessive sugar content and metabolic dysfunction.
  • CORN MEAL – safe · Ground corn providing texture and structure, though likely from conventional GMO corn.
  • CORN SYRUP – controversial · Liquid sugar that rapidly spikes blood glucose and contributes to insulin resistance.
  • COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI – safe · Dutch-processed cocoa that provides chocolate flavor but with reduced antioxidants compared to natural cocoa.
  • FRUCTOSE – controversial · Concentrated fruit sugar that bypasses normal metabolic pathways and contributes to fatty liver disease.
  • CANOLA OIL – controversial · Inflammatory seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids, often extracted with chemical solvents.
  • SALT – safe · Basic seasoning, though contributes to high sodium content when used excessively.
  • CARAMEL COLOR – controversial · May contain 4-MEI, a potential carcinogen formed during production of certain caramel colorings.
  • REFINER'S SYRUP – controversial · Another form of liquid sugar adding to the glycemic load.
  • BAKING SODA – safe · Sodium bicarbonate used as a leavening agent.
  • NATURAL FLAVOR – controversial · Umbrella term that can include hundreds of undisclosed chemicals derived from natural sources.
  • CALCIUM CARBONATE – safe · Mineral supplement providing calcium for bone health.
  • TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE – safe · Calcium and phosphorus supplement for bone health.
  • ZINC AND IRON – beneficial · Essential minerals supporting immune function and oxygen transport.
  • VITAMIN C – beneficial · Antioxidant vitamin supporting immune function.
  • NIACINAMIDE – beneficial · Vitamin B3 supporting energy metabolism.
  • VITAMIN B6 – beneficial · Essential vitamin for protein metabolism and brain function.
  • VITAMIN B2 – beneficial · Riboflavin supporting energy production and cellular function.
  • VITAMIN B1 – beneficial · Thiamine essential for carbohydrate metabolism.
  • VITAMIN A – beneficial · Fat-soluble vitamin supporting vision and immune function.
  • FOLIC ACID – beneficial · B vitamin crucial for DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation.
  • VITAMIN B12 – beneficial · Essential vitamin for nerve function and red blood cell production.
  • VITAMIN D3 – beneficial · Important for calcium absorption and immune function.
  • PALM KERNEL OIL – controversial · Highly saturated tropical oil linked to cardiovascular risks and environmental destruction.
  • PALM OIL – controversial · Saturated tropical oil associated with inflammation and rainforest destruction.
  • NONFAT MILK – safe · Dairy ingredient providing protein and calcium.
  • SOY LECITHIN – safe · Emulsifier derived from soybeans, helps blend ingredients.
  • VANILLA EXTRACT – safe · Natural flavoring from vanilla beans.
  • RICE FLOUR – safe · Refined grain flour providing structure.
  • BARLEY MALT EXTRACT – safe · Natural sweetener from sprouted barley, adds malty flavor.
  • COLOR ADDED – controversial · Unspecified artificial coloring agents.
  • BHT – dangerous · Butylated hydroxytoluene, a petroleum-derived preservative linked to cancer in animal studies and banned in many countries.
  • MARSHMALLOW BITS – controversial · Highly processed sugar confection with artificial ingredients.
  • MODIFIED CORN STARCH – safe · Chemically altered starch for texture modification.
  • GELATIN – safe · Animal-derived protein providing chewiness and structure.
  • SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE – controversial · Industrial emulsifier and sequestrant that may cause digestive issues in sensitive individuals.
  • ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVOR – controversial · Combination of synthetic and natural flavor compounds, specific ingredients undisclosed.
  • BLUE 1 – dangerous · Synthetic dye linked to hyperactivity in children and derived from petroleum.
  • HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP – dangerous · Industrial sweetener strongly linked to obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
  • WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR – safe · Whole grain flour providing some fiber and nutrients.
  • BROWN RICE FLOUR – safe · Whole grain flour adding nutritional value.
  • GLYCERIN – safe · Humectant keeping the product moist.
  • MALTODEXTRIN – controversial · Highly processed starch that spikes blood sugar faster than table sugar.
  • SORBITOL – safe · Sugar alcohol that can cause digestive upset in large amounts.
  • WHOLE OAT FLOUR – safe · Whole grain flour providing beta-glucan fiber.
  • CORN FLOUR – safe · Refined corn flour for texture.
  • MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH – safe · Chemically modified starch for texture control.

Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Contains some whole grains

Includes small amounts of cocoa

Extreme sugar content from 6+ sources

Contains BHT linked to cancer

Blue 1 artificial dye

Multiple inflammatory oils

Sodium hexametaphosphate

High fructose corn syrup

Ultra-processed formulation