Ingredients

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  Glucose Syrup

  Industrial sugar syrup hydrolyzed from starch — almost always GMO corn or wheat in the US/EU food supply. Functionally similar to corn syrup; same metabolic concerns (rapid glycemic load, fructose-glucose imbalance) plus the GMO sourcing.
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  Organic Cane Sugar

  Refined sucrose. Editorial position: drives chronic low-grade inflammation, dysregulates the gut microbiome, and contributes to weight gain at the dose found in everyday processed food. SmartChoice does not endorse cane sugar as an ingredient regardless of organic status.
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  Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

  Vitamin C; commonly used as an antioxidant.
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  Pectin

  Naturally derived from fruit.
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  Citric Acid

  Usually produced via Aspergillus niger fermentation rather than from citrus; widely accepted as safe.
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  Natural Flavor

  Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
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  Wheat Flour

  Milled wheat. Refined white flour lacks bran and germ.
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  Enriched Wheat Flour

  Refined flour stripped of bran/germ and fortified with synthetic vitamins to replace lost nutrients.
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  Sunflower Oil

  Refined seed oil; high-oleic variants slightly more stable but still industrially processed.
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  Whole Wheat Flour

  Includes bran and germ; more nutrient-dense than refined flour.
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  Molasses

  Byproduct of sugar refining; retains minerals.
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  Cane Sugar

  Refined sucrose from sugarcane — the same substance as table sugar. A refined sweetener: fine occasionally, worth limiting.
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  Baking Powder

  Mixture of baking soda, acid salt, and starch.
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  Cornstarch

  Refined starch from corn; typically GMO unless organic.
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  Guar Gum

  Derived from guar bean; minimally processed.
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  Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

  Mineral leavening agent.
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  Honey

  Whole-food sweetener.
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  Soy Lecithin

  Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
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  Salt

  Sodium chloride. Most table salt is highly refined with anti-caking agents.
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  Xanthan Gum

  Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.

Quality signals tier: standard · score: 0