Last weekend, I was browsing through the snack aisle of my local grocery store when I stumbled upon Mott’s fruit snacks.
As I started to read the label and ingredients, a woman approached me and asked, “Are they healthy?”
My response? “Not very healthy”.
Mott’s fruit snacks are popular fruit-flavored snacks made with real fruits and vegetable juice. They come in a variety of flavors and are marketed as a healthier alternative to other snacks on the market.
And while Mott’s fruit snacks are a convenient and delicious, are they healthy?
Short answer: Mott’s fruit snacks are not very healthy as they contain added sugar. However, they are excellent source of vitamin C and are free from artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Therefore, can be eaten in moderation.
Let’s dive deeper into Mott’s fruit snacks, including their ingredients, sugar content and more.
Also read: Are Peanut M&Ms Healthy? The Truth About These Candies
What are Mott’s fruit snacks made up of?
The exact ingredients in Mott’s fruit snacks vary depending on the flavor.
In general, they are made from corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, fruit juice concentrate and strawberry puree.
They also contain other ingredients in small quantities, such as
- Fruit pectin
- Citric acid
- Vitamin C
- Dextrose (simple sugar)
- Sodium citrate
- Malic acid
- Fruit & vegetable juice (for color)
- Potassium citrate (preservative)
- Sunflower oil
- Natural flavor
- Carnauba wax (for glossy appearance)
While Mott’s fruit snacks are marketed as made from fruits, fruit is unfortunately not the first ingredient.
Corn syrup and sugar are the primary two ingredients in them.
However, no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or gelatin are used in Mott’s fruit snacks, which is good thing.
How much sugar is in Mott’s fruit snacks?
Mott’s fruit snacks contain 7 to 10g of sugar per serving(one pouch), depending on the flavor.
However, the labelling does not disclose the amount of added sugar versus naturally occurring sugar.
But because corn syrup and sugar are the primary ingredients, it is likely that most of it is added sugar.
According to American Heart Association, the daily sugar limit for men is 36g, while for women and children is 24g.
Consuming a single serving of Mott’s fruit snacks can provide up to 27% of the daily sugar limit for men and 41% for women and children. That’s significant.
Here is a table showing the sugar content of all Mott’s fruit snacks flavors.
| Mott’s fruit snacks flavor | Sugar(g) |
|---|---|
| Assorted fruit | 10 |
| Berry | 10 |
| Tropical | 9 |
| Assorted fruit fiber plus | 10 |
| Fruity rolls | 7 |
How much sodium is in Mott’s fruit snacks?
Mott’s fruit snacks are relatively low in sodium making them a safe snacking option for those following a low-sodium diet.
A single serving(one pouch) contains 30 to 50mg of sodium, depending on the flavor.
This is not even 5% of the daily ideal sodium limit set by AHA.
Here is a table showing the sodium content of all Mott’s fruit snacks flavors.
| Mott’s fruit snacks flavor | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Assorted fruit | 30 |
| Berry | 30 |
| Tropical | 35 |
| Assorted fruit fiber plus | 30 |
| Fruity rolls | 50 |
Are Mott’s fruit snacks high in Vitamin C?
Nutritionally, Mott’s fruit snacks are lacking as most flavors(except assorted fruit plus fiber) don’t have any protein or fiber.
However, they do contain a good amount of vitamin C, meeting 100% of the daily value (DV).
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is essential in maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, and bones while also protecting cells.
It’s important to keep in mind that if vitamin C-rich foods are already a part of your diet, consuming Mott’s fruit snacks on top of that could lead to an excessive intake of vitamin C.
This may result in side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, stomach cramps, or bloating.
Are Mott’s fruit snacks good for weight loss?
Mott’s fruit snacks are not the best food for weight loss as they contain added sugar. However, you can still eat them in moderation on a weight-loss diet.
This is because they don’t contain fat and are relatively lower in calories (80 per serving).
If you keep your intake to one serving a day, they aren’t likely to impact your weight loss goals.
Remember that weight loss depends not only on one food but your overall diet and lifestyle.
Are Mott’s fruit snacks dairy-free?
Mott’s fruit does not contain milk or any milk derivatives, making it a suitable option for individuals with dairy allergies or those following a dairy-free diet.
Are Mott’s fruit snacks vegan?
Mott’s Fruit Snacks are vegan as they do not contain any animal-derived ingredients, making it a suitable option for individuals following a vegan diet.
Final words
Mott’s fruit snacks are not very healthy due to their added sugar content. Also, they are low in macro-nutrients such as protein and fiber.
So, they are definitely not a nutritious snacking option if you are looking for.
However, because they are good source of vitamin C and free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or gelatin, you can eat them in moderation.
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