Food Quality Guideby KarbCoach

Food Quality Guide by KarbCoach

Great Value Ugly Sweater Holiday Sugar Cookie Kit, Ugly Sweater: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-08-22 · Great Value

Quick answer

Lower integrity

Great Value ugly sweater holiday sugar cookie kit, ugly sweater received a Food Integrity Score of 42 out of 100 (lower integrity). This reflects ultra-processed and high additive load. This product is more like a food-engineering project with its high number of additives and artificial ingredients. Between artificial flavors and colors, it's a complex mix of ingredients. Opting for homemade alternatives can reduce exposure to ultra-processed elements often found in factory-formulated products. Main considerations include artificial colors, artificial flavors, and confectioner's glaze. Try homemade cookies with natural ingredients.

Food Integrity Score 42/100

What stood out on the label?

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

What to watch?

  • Artificial colors
  • Artificial flavors
  • Confectioner's glaze

Simpler options to consider

  • Try homemade cookies with natural ingredients

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

Source data, GTIN, and Food Quality Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Great Value Ugly Sweater Holiday Sugar Cookie Kit, Ugly Sweater
Category
Snacks (source: Cake, Cookie & Cupcake Mixes)
GTIN / UPC
00078742347998
Serving size
41 GRM (1/8 OF PACKAGE)
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Food Quality Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Ugly Sweater Holiday Sugar Cookie Kit, Ugly Sweater

Great Value

Lower integrity

Warning Signs

Artificial flavors, colors, and glazing agents raise red flags in this holiday kit.

Consider This

Ingredients like FD&C Red #40 and titanium dioxide are ultra-processed signals.

Good Substitutes

Consider homemade cookies with less industrial processing for a simpler treat.

Overall Assessment

Lower integrity

This product is more like a food-engineering project with its high number of additives and artificial ingredients. Between artificial flavors and colors, it's a complex mix of ingredients. Opting for homemade alternatives can reduce exposure to ultra-processed elements often found in factory-formulated products.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Artificial colors
  • Artificial flavors
  • Confectioner's glaze

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR — Contains artificial flavor
  • FD&C RED #40 ALUMINUM LAKE — Contains artificial colors
  • CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE — Potential non-vegan coating

Highest concern ingredients

  • NONPAREILS (9/10) — High in artificial components like FD&C colors

Better choice tips

  • Try homemade cookies with natural ingredients

Ingredients

Ingredient list

COOKIE MIX: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, CORN STARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), BAKING SODA, SALT. SPRINKLE BLEND: SUGAR, CORN STARCH, PALM OIL, TAPIOCA STARCH, DEXTRIN, XANTHAN GUM, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARNAUBA WAX, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, FD&C RED #40 ALUMINUM LAKE, FD&C BLUE #1 ALUMINUM LAKE, FD&C YELLOW #5 ALUMINUM LAKE. NONPAREILS: DEXTROSE, CORN STARCH, SUGAR, DEXTRIN, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, GUM ARABIC, FD&C YELLOW 5, FD&C RED 40, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), FD&C RED #3, FD&C YELLOW #6, CARNAUBA WAX, FD&C BLUE #1. HEART SPRINKLES: SUGAR, CORN STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, PALM OIL, XANTHAN GUM, FD&C RED #40, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), FD&C RED #3. CANDY CANE CANDIES: DEXTROSE, CORN STARCH, DEXTRIN, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, GUM ARABIC, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARNAUBA WAX, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), FD&C RED #40, FD&C RED #3. RED FROSTING MIX: DEXTROSE, FD&C RED #40 ALUMINUM LAKE. GREEN FROSTING MIX: DEXTROSE, FD&C YELLOW #5 ALUMINUM LAKE, FD&C BLUE #1 ALUMINUM LAKE.

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

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

  1. NONPAREILS: DEXTROSE, CORN STARCH, SUGAR, DEXTRIN, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, GUM ARABIC, FD&C YELLOW 5, FD&C RED 40, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), FD&C RED #3, FD&C YELLOW #6, CARNAUBA WAX, FD&C BLUE #1Concern 9/10 — High concernColor additivesWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Color additives

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Contains additives, colorants, and glaze

    Additional note

    High concern due to multiple colorants

    Family watchlist

    Multiple artificial colors and additives

  2. CANDY CANE CANDIES: DEXTROSE, CORN STARCH, DEXTRIN, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, GUM ARABIC, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARNAUBA WAX, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), FD&C RED #40, FD&C RED #3Concern 9/10 — High concernAdditivesWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Additives

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    High in artificial components

    Additional note

    High artificial input

    Family watchlist

    Contains artificial flavors and colors

  3. SPRINKLE BLEND: SUGAR, CORN STARCH, PALM OIL, TAPIOCA STARCH, DEXTRIN, XANTHAN GUM, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARNAUBA WAX, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE, FD&C RED #40 ALUMINUM LAKE, FD&C BLUE #1 ALUMINUM LAKE, FD&C YELLOW #5 ALUMINUM LAKEConcern 8/10 — Higher concernColor additivesWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Color additives

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Multiple artificial colors and gum

    Additional note

    Contains multiple artificial colors

    Family watchlist

    Contains multiple artificial colors and flavor

  4. HEART SPRINKLES: SUGAR, CORN STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, PALM OIL, XANTHAN GUM, FD&C RED #40, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), FD&C RED #3Concern 8/10 — Higher concernColor additivesWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Color additives

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Contains artificial colors

    Additional note

    Artificial colors and processing

View all 12 ingredient assessments
  1. RED FROSTING MIX: DEXTROSE, FD&C RED #40 ALUMINUM LAKEConcern 8/10 — Higher concernColor additiveWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Color additive

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Contains an artificial color

    Additional note

    Color additive presence

    Family watchlist

    Contains artificial colors

  2. GREEN FROSTING MIX: DEXTROSE, FD&C YELLOW #5 ALUMINUM LAKE, FD&C BLUE #1 ALUMINUM LAKEConcern 8/10 — Higher concernColor additivesWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Color additives

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Includes artificial colors

    Additional note

    Includes processed color additives

  3. NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORConcern 7/10 — Higher concernFlavoringWatchlist · Additive · Vague label term

    What this is

    Flavoring

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Includes artificial components

    Additional note

    Includes artificial flavoring

    Family watchlist

    Contains artificial flavor

  4. ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)Concern 3/10 — Mild concernBaking flour

    What this is

    Baking flour

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Refined flour; common in processed foods

    Additional note

    Typical refined baking flour

  5. BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, CORN STARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE)Concern 3/10 — Mild concernLeavening agentAdditive

    What this is

    Leavening agent

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Leavening for baked goods

    Additional note

    Chemical leavening agent

  6. SUGARConcern 2/10 — Very low concernSweetener

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Why it matters

    Basic refined sugar

    Additional note

    Simple refined sweetener

  7. BAKING SODAConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernLeavening agent

    What this is

    Leavening agent

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Basic leavening ingredient

    Additional note

    Common leavening agent

  8. SALTConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSeasoning

    What this is

    Seasoning

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Basic seasoning

    Additional note

    Common seasoning

This score estimates ingredient integrity, not product safety. 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 ingredients (Mentions "sugar", "dextrose". See ingredients for details.)

    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", "dextrose". 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 ingredients (Mentions "sugar", "dextrose". See ingredients for details.)

    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", "dextrose". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Low-Carb Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

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

    A consideration: Carb-dense ingredients (Mentions "flour", "wheat flour", "dextrose". See ingredients for details.)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Keto-Style Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

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

    A consideration: Carb-dense ingredients (Mentions "flour", "wheat flour", "dextrose". See ingredients for details.)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    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 Ugly Sweater Holiday Sugar Cookie Kit, Ugly Sweater 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 Ugly Sweater Holiday Sugar Cookie Kit, Ugly Sweater shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Great Value Ugly Sweater Holiday Sugar Cookie Kit, Ugly Sweater: 19g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include sugar, dextrose. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Low sodium; Low saturated fat.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: High added sugar; Artificial colors; Refined flour.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

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

Other published analyses in Snacks, selected from the same Food Quality Guide catalog.

Source data and Food Quality Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Food Quality 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

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

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