Food Quality Guideby KarbCoach

Food Quality Guide by KarbCoach

Trader Joe's Beach Day! Gummy Candy: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-09-02 · Trader Joe's

Quick answer

Lower integrity

Trader Joe's beach day! gummy candy received a Food Integrity Score of 53 out of 100 (lower integrity). This reflects highly processed and moderate additive load. Beach Day! Gummy Candy contains several modified starches and glucose syrup, indicating a highly processed product. It features additives like natural flavors and glazing agents, typical of factory-formulated foods. Enjoy these occasionally rather than regularly due to the blend of processed ingredients. Main considerations include high level of processed ingredients, use of refined sweeteners, and multiple additives. Simpler options: Opt for snacks with whole food ingredients; look for candies without added glazes or flavor systems.

Food Integrity Score 53/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Highly processed
  • Moderate additive load
  • Transparency: Medium

What to watch?

  • High level of processed ingredients
  • Use of refined sweeteners
  • Multiple additives

Simpler options to consider

  • Opt for snacks with whole food ingredients
  • Look for candies without added glazes or flavor systems

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
Trader Joe's Beach Day! Gummy Candy
Category
Snacks
GTIN / UPC
00000000742498
Serving size
28 g (7 pieces (28 g))
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

Beach Day! Gummy Candy

Trader Joe's

Lower integrity

Warning Signs

Modified starches and glucose syrup raise flags for higher processing concerns.

Consider This

Ingredients like glucose syrup and carnauba wax are associated with ultra-processed foods.

Good Substitutes

Choose natural snacks with simple ingredients like dried fruit for a cleaner option.

Overall Assessment

Lower integrity

Beach Day! Gummy Candy contains several modified starches and glucose syrup, indicating a highly processed product. It features additives like natural flavors and glazing agents, typical of factory-formulated foods. Enjoy these occasionally rather than regularly due to the blend of processed ingredients.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • High level of processed ingredients
  • Use of refined sweeteners
  • Multiple additives

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • GLUCOSE SYRUP (CORN, WHEAT) — Refined sweetener
  • NATURAL FLAVORS — Vague ingredient
  • GLAZING AGENT (SUNFLOWER OIL, CARNAUBA WAX) — Common in processed foods

Highest concern ingredients

  • GLUCOSE SYRUP (CORN, WHEAT) (6/10) — Processed sweetener from corn and wheat
  • GLAZING AGENT (SUNFLOWER OIL, CARNAUBA WAX) (7/10) — Surface treatment for shine
  • NATURAL FLAVORS (6/10) — Vague flavoring, varies widely

Better choice tips

  • Opt for snacks with whole food ingredients
  • Look for candies without added glazes or flavor systems

Ingredients

Ingredient list

GLUCOSE SYRUP (CORN, WHEAT), SUGAR, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, MODIFIED PEA STARCH, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT), NATURAL FLAVORS, GLAZING AGENT (SUNFLOWER OIL, CARNAUBA WAX), NONFAT MILK POWDER, VEGETABLE JUICE (FOR COLOR), SPIRULINA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), FRUIT JUICE (FOR COLOR)

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

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

  1. GLAZING AGENT (SUNFLOWER OIL, CARNAUBA WAX)Concern 7/10 — Higher concernGlazing agentWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Glazing agent

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Used for texture or appearance.

    Additional note

    Surface treatment for shine

    Family watchlist

    Common in processed foods

  2. GLUCOSE SYRUP (CORN, WHEAT)Concern 6/10 — Moderate concernSweetenerWatchlist

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Refined sugar syrup often found in processed foods.

    Additional note

    Processed sweetener from corn and wheat

    Family watchlist

    Refined sweetener

  3. NATURAL FLAVORSConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernVague ingredientWatchlist · Vague label term

    What this is

    Vague ingredient

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Vague components may mask variability.

    Additional note

    Vague flavoring, varies widely

  4. MODIFIED POTATO STARCHConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernThickenerAdditive

    What this is

    Thickener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Modified starches increase processing level.

    Additional note

    Thickener from processed starch

View all 12 ingredient assessments
  1. MODIFIED PEA STARCHConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernThickenerAdditive

    What this is

    Thickener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Modified starches increase processing level.

    Additional note

    Thickener from processed pea starch

  2. MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCHConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernThickenerAdditive

    What this is

    Thickener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Modified starches increase processing level.

    Additional note

    Thickener from processed tapioca

  3. CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT)Concern 4/10 — Mild concernAcidulantAdditive

    What this is

    Acidulant

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Citric acid is commonly used in processing.

    Additional note

    Common acidulant additive

  4. SUGARConcern 3/10 — Mild concernSweetener

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Main concern area

    Ingredient concern

    Why it matters

    Regular sugar is highly refined and commonly used.

    Additional note

    Common refined sweetener

  5. NONFAT MILK POWDERConcern 2/10 — Very low concernDairy base

    What this is

    Dairy base

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Ingredient concern

    Why it matters

    Powdered milk is used in processing.

    Additional note

    Common dairy ingredient

  6. VEGETABLE JUICE (FOR COLOR)Concern 1/10 — Very low concernColor from vegetables

    What this is

    Color from vegetables

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Whole food used for color.

    Additional note

    Natural coloring

  7. SPIRULINA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR)Concern 1/10 — Very low concernColor from plants

    What this is

    Color from plants

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Used for natural color boost.

    Additional note

    Natural extract for coloring

  8. FRUIT JUICE (FOR COLOR)Concern 1/10 — Very low concernColor from fruits

    What this is

    Color from fruits

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Whole food ingredient for color.

    Additional note

    Used as natural coloring agent

This score is an estimate of overall ingredient integrity and not a health or 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", "glucose". 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", "glucose". 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". 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". 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 Trader Joe's Beach Day! Gummy Candy highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Highly 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?

Trader Joe's Beach Day! Gummy Candy shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Trader Joe's Beach Day! Gummy Candy: 15g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include glucose syrup, sugar. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Natural flavors used; No saturated fat.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: High in added sugar; No fiber or protein.

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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