Healthy Food Guideby KarbCoach

Healthy Food Guide by KarbCoach

Great Value Coffee Ice Cream: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-10-17 · Great Value

Quick answer

Lower integrity

Great Value coffee ice cream received a Food Integrity Score of 52 out of 100 (lower integrity). This reflects ultra-processed and high additive load. This reads more like a food-engineering project than a simple recipe, even though the dairy base is recognizable. The stacked gums, cellulose ingredients, and corn syrup do a lot of behind-the-scenes work for texture and stability. Fine as an occasional treat, but it is not something to consider based on your overall diet if you prefer minimal-ingredient foods. Main considerations include multiple gums and cellulose texture helpers, corn syrup as refined sweetener, and caramel color and emulsifiers. Simpler options: Choose a coffee ice cream with fewer gums and emulsifiers; look for a short list built on milk, cream, sugar, and real coffee.

Food Integrity Score 52/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Ultra-processed
  • High additive load
  • Transparency: High

What to watch?

  • Multiple gums and cellulose texture helpers
  • Corn syrup as refined sweetener
  • Caramel color and emulsifiers

Simpler options to consider

  • Choose a coffee ice cream with fewer gums and emulsifiers
  • Look for a short list built on milk, cream, sugar, and real coffee

You are viewing ingredients and processing. Switch to Longevity for nutrition and longer-term eating pattern fit.

Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Great Value Coffee Ice Cream
Category
Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (source: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt)
GTIN / UPC
00078742374000
Serving size
88 g (2/3 cup)
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Healthy Food Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Coffee Ice Cream

Great Value

Lower integrity

Warning Signs

Corn syrup, carob bean, tara, guar, xanthan, and carrageenan gums, plus cellulose gel and cellulose gum, make this a texture-engineered formula.

Consider This

Multiple gums, emulsifiers, caramel color, and corn syrup are typical of factory-formulated frozen desserts rather than simple kitchen recipes.

Good Substitutes

Try a short-list coffee ice cream made with milk, cream, sugar, and real brewed coffee, or a dairy-only frozen dessert with no gums.

Overall Assessment

Lower integrity

This reads more like a food-engineering project than a simple recipe, even though the dairy base is recognizable. The stacked gums, cellulose ingredients, and corn syrup do a lot of behind-the-scenes work for texture and stability. Fine as an occasional treat, but it is not something to consider based on your overall diet if you prefer minimal-ingredient foods.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Multiple gums and cellulose texture helpers
  • Corn syrup as refined sweetener
  • Caramel color and emulsifiers

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • Corn Syrup — Refined sweetener
  • Carob Bean, Tara, Guar, Xanthan Gums — Stacked thickeners
  • Carrageenan — Debated gelling agent
  • Mono- and Diglycerides — Emulsifier
  • Cellulose Gel and Gum — Modified cellulose stabilizers
  • Caramel Color — Color additive

Highest concern ingredients

  • Corn Syrup (6/10) — Refined sweetener with formulation role.
  • Stacked gums and cellulose (6/10) — Multiple texture and stability helpers.
  • Caramel Color (6/10) — Appearance-focused color additive.

Better choice tips

  • Choose a coffee ice cream with fewer gums and emulsifiers.
  • Look for a short list built on milk, cream, sugar, and real coffee.

Ingredients

Ingredient list

MILK, CREAM, SKIM MILK, SUGAR, BUTTERMILK, WHEY, CORN SYRUP, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF COFFEE EXTRACT, VEGETABLE GUMS (CAROB BEAN GUM, TARA GUM, GUAR GUM), XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, CELLULOSE GEL, CELLULOSE GUM, CARAMEL COLOR.

Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.

Highest-concern ingredients first. Expand an item for notes.

  1. Corn SyrupConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernRefined syrupWatchlist

    What this is

    Refined syrup

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Refined syrup adds sweetness and texture.

    Additional note

    Refined corn sweetener, formulation-oriented.

    Family watchlist

    Refined sweetener many users want flagged.

  2. Vegetable Gums (Carob Bean Gum, Tara Gum, Guar Gum)Concern 6/10 — Moderate concernThickenerWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Thickener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Gums are added for texture and stability.

    Additional note

    Stacked gum thickeners for texture and stability.

    Family watchlist

    Multiple gums used as thickening helpers.

  3. Xanthan GumConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernThickenerWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Thickener

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Texture helper adds to formulation load.

    Additional note

    Fermentation-derived gum used for texture.

    Family watchlist

    Gum thickener many users may want flagged.

  4. CarrageenanConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernGelling agentWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Gelling agent

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Gelling agent with debated reputation.

    Additional note

    Seaweed-derived gelling agent, debated by some users.

    Family watchlist

    Controversial texture additive some users avoid.

View all 15 ingredient assessments
  1. Mono- and DiglyceridesConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernEmulsifierWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Emulsifier

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Emulsifier used for smooth texture.

    Additional note

    Emulsifiers for texture and stability.

    Family watchlist

    Emulsifier many users want flagged.

  2. Cellulose GelConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernTexture helperWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Texture helper

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Engineered cellulose adds texture and bulk.

    Additional note

    Modified plant cellulose used as a texture helper.

    Family watchlist

    Modified cellulose texture additive.

  3. Cellulose GumConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernStabilizerWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Stabilizer

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Stabilizer adds to formulation load.

    Additional note

    Modified cellulose gum for stabilization.

    Family watchlist

    Stabilizer many users may want flagged.

  4. Caramel ColorConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernColor additiveWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Color additive

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Added for color rather than as a food base.

    Additional note

    Color additive, appearance-focused.

    Family watchlist

    Color additive many users want flagged.

  5. SugarConcern 3/10 — Mild concernSweetener

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Refined sweetener adds sugar load.

    Additional note

    Refined sweetener, common and recognizable.

  6. WheyConcern 3/10 — Mild concernDairy fraction

    What this is

    Dairy fraction

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Separated dairy fraction added for body.

    Additional note

    Dairy fraction, separated and common.

  7. Contains 2% or less of Coffee ExtractConcern 3/10 — Mild concernFlavor extract

    What this is

    Flavor extract

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Coffee flavor from an extract, not whole coffee.

    Additional note

    Flavor extract, amount small; source details limited.

  8. ButtermilkConcern 1/10 — Very low concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Recognizable cultured dairy.

    Additional note

    Cultured dairy, category-normal.

  9. MilkConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Simple recognizable dairy base.

    Additional note

    Recognizable dairy base, category-normal.

  10. CreamConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Recognizable dairy fat source.

    Additional note

    Recognizable dairy fat, category-normal.

  11. Skim MilkConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Simple recognizable dairy ingredient.

    Additional note

    Recognizable dairy, category-normal.

Food Integrity is an ingredient-based label analysis, not a medical safety rating. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

How this product may fit different goals

The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.

  • Low-Spike Stability

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • GLP-1 Eating Support

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "sugar", "syrup", "corn syrup". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Low Sugar Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Appetite & Portion Awareness

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "sugar", "syrup", "corn syrup". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Vegan

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegan, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "milk", "cream", "whey". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Plant-Based

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Plant-Based, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Animal-derived ingredients (Mentions "milk", "cream", "whey". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

See how this product fits your goals

Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.

Personalize this analysis

Understanding the Food Integrity analysis

What the Food Integrity analysis evaluates

The Food Integrity analysis focuses on how a packaged food is formulated and made. It examines processing level, ingredient quality, additives, oils, sweeteners, purity cues, and how clearly a label communicates what is in the product. The Food Integrity Score summarizes that formulation and transparency picture on a 0–100 scale. It is not a full nutrient report and it is not a personalized meal plan.

Why processing, ingredients, and transparency matter

Processing level and ingredient quality shape what you are actually eating beyond calories on the label. Additives, industrial oils, and intense sweeteners can change how clean or heavily engineered a product feels, even when the front of pack looks wholesome. Purity and transparency matter because incomplete or marketing-heavy labeling can hide tradeoffs that only show up when the full ingredient list is reviewed carefully.

Who may prioritize Food Integrity

Some people care mainly about Food Integrity because their dietary goals center on formulation rather than macros alone. Examples include checking vegetarian or vegan suitability, preferring simpler ingredient sources, avoiding certain additives or sweeteners, watching oil choices, or preferring less processed options. For those priorities, the Food Integrity Score can be the more practical first read.

How Food Integrity differs from Longevity

Food Integrity is the focused analysis of processing, ingredients, additives, purity, and transparency. Longevity is the broader analysis of nutritional composition, metabolic and dietary characteristics, processing, and ingredient quality together. Favorable nutrition values do not necessarily mean strong Food Integrity: a product can look balanced on macros yet still rely on heavy processing or additives that the Food Integrity analysis flags in more detail.

Why the two analyses overlap—and why to review Longevity too

The analyses overlap intentionally. Food Integrity–related characteristics contribute to Longevity, and Longevity still benefits from the same ingredient-quality lens. They are not competing verdicts; they answer different questions at different depths. Reviewing the Longevity analysis can add information about nutritional composition, metabolic characteristics, and dietary balance that Food Integrity alone does not emphasize. Looking at both usually gives the most complete understanding of tradeoffs.

Common questions about this product

Is Great Value Coffee Ice Cream highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Ultra-processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.

Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?

Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.

How much fiber is in one serving?

Great Value Coffee Ice Cream shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Great Value Coffee Ice Cream: 18g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include sugar, corn syrup. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Contains some dairy protein (3g per serving); Simple dairy base with recognizable milk and cream.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: 18g sugar per serving, with corn syrup and sugar added; Multiple gums, emulsifiers, and cellulose additives; Zero fiber and low whole-food content.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same ice cream & frozen desserts differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.

Other published analyses in Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts, selected from the same Healthy Food Guide catalog.

Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
  3. How the Longevity Score is calculated
  4. How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
  5. Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
  6. Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
  7. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information

Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

Sources, citations & safety

See how this item lines up with your goals

Healthy Food Guide covers this product in detail. In KarbCoach, your goals shape what matters most for your meals.

Set your goals in KarbCoach

Also available in the app

Download on the App StoreGet it onGoogle Play