Fruit snacks have more in common with the family car than ya thought

 

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Gummy fruit snacks are one of your fave munchies, and we don’t blame ya! They’re often packed with vitamins, are super low-cal and all you’ve gotta do it tear open a package and chow down. According to The Huffington Post, however, these innocent looking snacks contain ingredients that are just plain ol’ gross. 

Since gummies are processed foods, they’ve been engineered to taste, smell and look as delicious as they do. And they’re packed with preservatives to make ‘em last for awhile on grocery store shelves. But the most ew-wrothy item of notice? Their ingredients.

Vegans and vegetarians might object to the gelatin that makes them so, well, gummy. Gelatin is made from animal bones and cartilage—not the best option, probably, if you’re staying away from animal products. And that artificial shine? Yeah, it comes from carnauba wax, which is derived from the leaves of palm trees. It’s also the same wax we use to shine cars, floors and surf boards. Still with us? The cheery reds and yellows in your handful of gummies comes from petroleum. Some of the food colorings used in our fruit snacks are even banned outside the U.S. 

Still love your fruit snacks but don’t want to eat the ingredients in them? No worries! Look for all-natural or organic alternatives to fruit snacks. Also, you can try other quick and easy snacks such as fresh fruit, dried fruit, raw veggies, cheese and crackers, yogurt or nuts.

BY GL ON 3/24/2012 12:00:00 AM

POSTED IN eating, healthy eating 101, how to cut out junk food, health, nutrition