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Russell Stover Assorted Milk & Dark Chocolates, 7 Count, 4.03 Oz

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Label for Russell Stover Assorted Milk & Dark Chocolates, 7 Count, 4.03 Oz captured by LabelINSIGHT on Oct 21, 2022 Tell us if the product name is misspelled.

EWG Overall Score Breakdown

The product score is based on weighted scores for nutrition, ingredient and processing concerns. Generally, nutrition counts most, ingredient concerns next and degree of processing least. The weighted scores are added together to determine the final score. Read more about scores here.

EWG Overall Score Breakdown


EWG scored on three factors: nutrition, ingredient concerns, and the degree of processing. Read the full scoring methodology.

Score
Lower concern
Higher concern
Lower concern
Higher concern
1
10

Read our full methodology

Nutrition Concern Details

Level

Considers calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, sodium, protein, fiber and fruit, vegetable and nut content to differentiate between healthful and less healthful foods. For more information on nutrition concerns, read our full methodology.

Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids [read more]

EWG calculates that this product is 55% sugar by weight and contains 5 teaspoons of added and natural sugar per serving [read more]

Contains low calorie sweeteners: Sorbitol [read more]

Contains a high level of saturated fat [read more]

The nutrition factors used for scoring Russell Stover Assorted Milk & Dark Chocolates, 7 Count, 4.03 Oz
Positive factors
Fruit, vegetable, bean or nut content
Protein content
Fiber content
Omega-3 fatty acids
Negative factors
Calorie density
Sugar/low-calorie sweetener content
Sodium content
Saturated fat content
Trans fat content

Ingredient Concern Details

Level

Considers food additives, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and contaminants like mercury and BPA, which can affect human health and the environment. For more information on ingredient concerns, read methodology.

This product is not certified organic [read more]

Contains 5 of EWG's top food additives of concern: RED 40, FD&C BLUE #2, BLUE 1, YELLOW 5, and YELLOW 6

Contains synthetic food dyes [read more]

Includes ingredient(s) derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and/or growth promoters: Milk Solids (Fat Free), Milk, Cream, Condensed Milk, and Butter [read more]

This product has 14 ingredients with concerns:

Processing Concern Details

Level

Estimates how much the food has been processed. Considers many factors, chief among them, modification of individual ingredients from whole foods and number of artificial ingredients. For more information on processing concerns, read our full methodology.

Product has been classified as having high processing concerns

Products with moderate and high processing concerns generally have more artificial ingredients, more ingredients that have been significantly modified from whole foods, and more ingredients overall.

EWG's Top Findings

This product is not certified organic [read more]

This product is not certified organic

Products bearing the USDA certified organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredient, and must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and free of genetically engineered ingredients.

Contains food additives of higher concern

Contains 5 of EWG's top food additives of concern: RED 40, FD&C BLUE #2, BLUE 1, YELLOW 5, and YELLOW 6

Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids [read more]

Contains ingredients that may contribute small ...

Both refined oils and fully hydrogenated oils contain small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats and contribute to the total intake of trans fat in the diet (Biofortis 2014). Artificial trans fats are generated in refined oils when they are processed at high temperatures from the crude oil into a bland, odorless, colorless oil (Greyt 1999). A 2012 study conducted by FDA scientists estimated that refined oil contributes an average 0.6 grams of trans fat a day (Doell 2012). The World Health Organization recommends limits on trans fat of less than 1 to 2 grams a day—in this context, it’s easy to see that 0.6 grams is not an insignificant contribution. In the case of fully hydrogenated oils, they should theoretically be free of trans fat, but since no hydrogenation process is 100 percent efficient, trans fats are often found in fully hydrogenated oils at low levels (FDA 2013). The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrition Database has tested refined, partially hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated oils and found trans fats in all of them (USDA 2013). Textbooks for food scientists reveal that the mono and di-glycerides and other emulsifiers are often made from hydrogenated fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008) and at temperatures above 220°C (Sikorski and Kolakowka 2011). Emulsifiers produced from hydrogenated fats “contain measurable concentrations" of trans fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008). Unfortunately, due to lack of label disclosure and the trans fat labeling loophole, only the food scientists will ever know just how much trans fat these refined oils and emulsifiers are contributing to foods and the American diet.

EWG calculates that this product is 55% sugar by weight and contains 5 teaspoons of added and natural sugar per serving [read more]

EWG calculates that this product is 55% sugar b...

Eating too much of any type of sugar can lead to tooth decay. Added sugars like high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar and dextrose are more concerning than natural sugars like raisins because they can lead to obesity by adding calories without being accompanied by important nutrients like potassium, vitamin C or fiber. Americans average 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day (NCI 2010; USDA and DHHS 2010). The World Health Organization recommends no more than 6 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar a day for adults, children should eat even less (WHO 2002; WHO 2014).

Contains synthetic food dyes [read more]

Contains synthetic food dyes

Health concerns about the use of dyes in children's food has a led to a reduction in usage but these colorants are still common.

Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor" [read more]

Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor"

Added "flavors" are secret and often complex mixtures of chemicals that modify and manipulate the taste and smell of food. The lack of disclosure is a public right to know issue and especially concerning to people with unusual food allergies or on restricted diets.

Contains low calorie sweeteners: Sorbitol [read more]

Contains low calorie sweeteners: Sorbitol

Low calorie sweeteners were designed to impart a sweet taste without the calories or glucose effects of sugar. However there is insufficient evidence that they reduce overall calorie intake, aid with weight loss or improve overall health (Gardner 2014; Shankar 2013). Instead low calorie sweeteners may condition people to crave sweet foods (Mattes 2009) and therefore eat fewer servings of healthy foods (IOM 2007). The IOM recommends that schools not serve diet foods or beverages to young children (IOM 2007). In the meantime EWG concludes that people should limit their consumption of sugar and low calorie sweeteners, advice echoed by other nutrition experts (Swithers 2013; Shankar 2013).

Contains a high level of saturated fat [read more]

Contains a high level of saturated fat

Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010). For this reason it has long been known as a "bad" fat that raises the "bad" cholesterol, LDL. Numerous authoritative bodies support the recommendation to limit saturated fat to 10 percent of calories -- equivalent to a reasonable limit of 14 slices of bacon's worth of saturated fat a day (WHO 2002; USDA and DHHS 2010). A 2012 review by the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent non-profit organization, found that reducing or replacing saturated fat with other healthy fats reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 14 percent (Hooper 2012). Other recent reviews have found that there in no evidence of a benefit from reducing saturated fat (Chowdhury 2014; Schwingshackl & Hoffmann 2014). While it's clear that we still have a lot to learn about how fats behave and contribute to disease, the evidence supporting a moderate level of saturated fat consumption remains strong and consistent.

Product has been classified as having high processing concerns

Includes ingredient(s) derived from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and/or growth promoters: Milk Solids (Fat Free), Milk, Cream, Condensed Milk, and Butter [read more]

Includes ingredient(s) derived from animals tha...

This food contains ingredient(s) from animals that were possibly treated with antibiotics and artificial growth promoters.

EWG Food Reports

Natural vs. Artificial Flavors

EWG's Good Food On A Tight Budget

EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide to Avoiding GE Food

Why GE Foods are not "Natural"

EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce

Ingredient List

From the Package

MILK CHOCOLATE {SUGAR, WHOLE MILK, COCOA BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), VANILLIN (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR)}, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, DARK CHOCOLATE {SUGAR, CHOCOLATE PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, COCOA BUTTER, MILK FAT, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), VANILLIN (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR)}, PEANUTS, CONDENSED MILK, INVERT SUGAR, CREAM, BROWN SUGAR, PALM KERNEL OIL, ALMONDS, COCOA POWDER, WHITE CHOCOLATE {SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, WHOLE MILK, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SALT}, SALT, STRAWBERRIES, DRIED EGG WHITES, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, INVERTASE (ENZYME), SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), CITRIC ACID, SOYBEAN OIL, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT), FD&C COLORS (RED 40, YELLOW 5 & 6, BLUE 1 & 2), SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES), HONEY, WALNUTS, TAPIOCA STARCH, MAPLE SUGAR, CARAMEL COLOR, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES WITH CITRIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANT), BUTTER, SPICE, SORBITOL, PECANS, APRICOTS WITH SULFUR DIOXIDE (PRESERVES COLOR), ORANGE PEEL (ORANGE PEEL, WATER AND CITRIC ACID), CARMINE COLOR, MALTODEXTRIN, RASPBERRIES, COCONUT WITH SODIUM METABISULFITE (PRESERVES WHITENESS), WHOLE MILK, NONFAT MILK SOLIDS, CHERRIES {CHERRIES, CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, SUGAR, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVES), SULFUR DIOXIDE (PRESERVES COLOR), NATURAL FLAVOR, FD&C RED 40}, RAISINS (RAISINS, SUNFLOWER OIL), LEMON PEEL AND EVAPORATED MILK (MILK, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CARRAGEENAN, VITAMIN D3)

*Older Product

Products remain in the database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores. A product with label information last recorded more than a year ago is marked with an * identifying it as an older product.

*Discontinued Product

Products remain in the Database for two years after their label information is recorded in stores, even when they have been discontinued (products may remain in stores and pantries long past the date they cease to be manufactured). EWG marks a product it is aware has been discontinued with a banner identifying it as such.

Product Images

Please note that EWG obtains the displayed images of products from third parties and that the product's manufacturer or packager may change the product's packaging at any point in time. Therefore, EWG assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of images presented.

Other Information

This product contains the following ingredient(s) that may be genetically engineered or derived from GE crops: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Brown Sugar, Corn Syrup, Sugars, Sorbitol, Invert Sugar, Maltodextrin, Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids, Lecithin (Soy), and Citric Acid [read more]

This product contains the following ingredient(...

Scientists have not determined whether GE food poses risks to human health. Still, consumers have many good reasons to avoid eating genetically engineered ingredients, including limited safety studies, the development of "superweeds" and increased pesticide use. For more information on the topic visit: http://www.ewg.org/research/shoppers-guide-to-avoiding-ge-food Note: The presence or absence of genetically engineered ingredients or ingredients derived from GE crops does not affect a product's overall score.

Environmental Impact: Contains eggs, which have a lower carbon footprint than meat.

Contains ingredients derived from tree nut, milk or peanut - these are considered major food allergens according to the FDA [read more]

Contains ingredients derived from tree nut, mil...

While over 160 food ingredients may cause allergic reactions current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations stipulate that 8 major food allergens must be labeled on products. These allergens include; milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Note: The presence of potential allergens does not affect the overall product score.

Nutrition Facts

4.0 servings per container

Serving Size

2 pieces (33g)

Amount Per 33.0 g
Calories
140
% Daily Value (based on a 2,000 calorie diet and adult bodyweight)
Update the values for someone:

QUICK FACTS:

8.0 8.0 % Total Fat 6 g
8.0 8.0 % Total Carbs 21 g
Sugars 18 g
% Protein 2 g

AVOID TOO MUCH:

18.0 18.0 % Saturated Fat 3 g
Trans Fat 0.0g
2.0 2.0 % Cholesterol 5 mg
2.0 2.0 % Sodium 40 mg
Added Sugar Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Brown Sugar, Maple Sugar, Corn Syrup, Sugars, Honey, and Invert Sugar

NUTRIENTS:

4.0 4.0 % Dietary Fiber 1 g
Vitamin D (no value on present label)
2.0 2.0 % Calcium
6.0 6.0 % Iron
2.0 2.0 % Potassium 81 mg

† Institute of Medicine. 2010. "Dietary Reference Intakes Tables and Application." Accessed April 8, 2014: link

 

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