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Are fruit snacks high in sugar? You know those little gummy-like fruit snacks, that loved to be marketed as basically just fruit. But how much sugar is actually in these fruit snacks that our kids so enjoy? To answer this question, I looked at the sugar content of some of the big fruit snack brands. I also managed to find 1 sugar free and a couple of lower sugar fruit snacks. So, make sure to read to the end to find out what these are! So, let’s dig in. Are fruit snacks high in sugar?
How Much Sugar is in Fruit Snacks?
As a general rule, most 23g pouches of fruit snacks contain 9g-12g of total sugar. The sweeteners used in these fruit snacks are usually but not always corn syrup and sugar. There are some lower sugar and sugar free fruit snacks available.
Summary Table – Sugar Content of Fruit Snacks
Below is a summary table of 9 different fruit snack brands available to buy online and from grocery stores. For each brand, I list the sweeter used and the total sugar content per serving. I list the sugar content in descending order. As you can see from the table the sugar content varies from 12g to 0g per serving.
| Fruit Snacks | Sweetener Used | Total Sugar Content Per Serving |
|---|---|---|
| Annie’s Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks | Organic rice syrup and organic cane sugar | 12g |
| Black Forest Fruit Snacks Juicy Burst, Berry Medley | Corn syrup and sugar | 12g |
| Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Mixed Fruit | Corn syrup and sugar | 10g |
| Gushers Fruit Flavored Snacks, Variety Pack, Strawberry, and Tropical | Corn syrup and sugar | 10g |
| Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks, Assorted Fruit | Corn syrup and sugar | 9g |
| Scooby Doo Fruit Flavored Snacks | Corn syrup and sugar | 9g |
| Welch’s Reduced Sugar Mixed Fruit Snacks | Corn syrup and sugar | 7g |
| Rip Van Fruit Snacks | None | 1g |
| Welch’s Zero Sugar Fruit Snacks | Maltitol, allulose, and maltodextrin | 0g |
Ranking Fruit Snack Brands – item-by-item
In this section, I will go through each of the 9 different brands of fruit snack brands I have listed in the above table ranking them in order of sugar content from highest to lowest.
1. Annie’s Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks Variety Pack – 12g of Total Sugar
First, on this list, we have Annie Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks. I love the fact these fruit snacks are organic. I also love the fact that the more natural sweeteners of organic rice syrup and organic cane sugar are used in these fruit snacks (most fruit snacks are sweetened with corn syrup and sugar). However, just because more natural organic sweeteners are used doesn’t result in lower total sugar content.
These fruit snacks actually have one of the highest total sugar contents I came across in my search – at 12g of total sugar per 23g pouch.
2. Black Forest Fruit Snacks Juicy Burst, Berry Medley – 12g of Total Sugar
The other fruit snacks I came across that contain 12g of total sugar per 23g pouch are from Black Forest. Black Forest’s berry medley fruit snacks are sweetened with corn syrup and sugar.
3. Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Mixed Fruit – 10g of Total Sugar
Next up is a big name in the fruit snacks world – Welch’s. Like so many fruit snacks Welch’s are sweetened with corn syrup and sugar. However, unlike most other fruit snacks the fruit purees are actually listed first in the ingredient list, before sugar and corn syrup. This means there is more fruit puree than sugar and corn syrup. So that is something at least.
There are 10g of total sugar per 22.7g pouch of Welch’s fruit snacks.
4. Gushers Fruit Flavored Snacks, Variety Pack, Strawberry, and Tropical – 10g of Total Sugar
The variety pack of Gushers fruit snacks is also sweetened with sugar and corn syrup and there is also 10g of total sugar (per 23g pouch).
5. Mott’s Fruit Flavored Snacks, Assorted Fruit – 9g of Total Sugar
Mott’s is another big name in the fruit snacks world. The sugar content of Mott’s is on the slightly lower side for a ‘non-reduced sugar’ fruit snack, as there are 9g of sugar per 23g pouch. Mott’s fruit snacks are sweetened with corn syrup and sugar.
6. Scooby Doo Fruit Flavored Snacks – 9g of Total Sugar
The final regular fruit snack on this list, before we move into some reduced sugar varieties, is Scooby Do fruit flavored snacks. There are 9g of total sugar per 23g pouch and they are sweetened with sugar and corn syrup.
7. Welch’s Reduced Sugar Mixed Fruit Snacks – 7g of Total Sugar
The first reduced sugar fruit snacks I came across in my search are Welch’s reduced sugar mixes fruit snacks. Just like the full sugar version this reduced sugar variety is sweetened with corn syrup and sugar. However, the sugar content is 7g of sugar per pouch (the full sugar Welch’s Mixed Fruit Snacks contain 10g of sugar so there is a 3g sugar saving).
You can find Welch’s reduced sugar mixes fruit snacks on Amazon here.
8. Rip Van Fruit Snacks – 1g of Total Sugar
Next, we have an awesome fruit snack from Rip Van. Rip Van Fruit Snacks do not contain any added sugars or sweeteners at all. How awesome is that! There is 1g of total sugar per 20g pouch and 0g of added sugar.
These fruit snacks are also high in fiber and contain prebiotics. These amazing fruit snacks come in a ‘fun mix’ and can be found on Amazon here.
9. Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Zero Sugar Variety Pack – 0g of Total Sugar
The other added sugar free fruit snacks I came across are from none other than Welch’s! Welch’s zero-sugar fruit snacks are sweetened instead with maltitol, allulose, and maltodextrin. There are 0g of total sugar per serving and 13g of sugar alcohol.
You can find these sugar free fruit snacks on Amazon here.
My Personal Low Sugar Fruit Snack Choice?
It has got to be Rip Van fruit snacks – I adore the fact that no sugar or sweetener is used in these fruit snacks.
Sugar In Fruit Snacks F&Q
How Much Sugar is in a Pack Of Fruit Snacks?
As a general rule, most 23g pouches of fruit snacks contain 9g-12g of total sugar.
Are Welch’s Fruit Snacks High in Sugar?
A 22.7g pouch of Welch’s mixed fruit snacks contains 10g of total sugar. However, Welch’s also makes a reduced sugar variety which contains 7g of sugar per pouch as well as a zero-sugar variety which contains 0g of sugar per pouch.
Which Fruit Snacks Are Sugar Free?
Welch’s zero sugar fruit snacks are sweetened with maltitol, allulose, and maltodextrin and contain 0g of sugar per serving. Rip Van Fruit snacks do not contain any sweetener and contain 1g of total sugar per serving.
Are Fruit Snacks High in Sugar? – The Final Bite
Are fruit snacks high in sugar? If like me, you are a parent you will realize how important the fruit snack is to coercing your child into doing something – “if you get into your car seat you can have a fruit snack”. We have all done it. However, when it comes to sugar content there really is some difference between the brands available. If you are watching the sugar content (especially since these snacks are aimed at kids), then you will want to pick the lowest sugar ones available. As I mentioned above this would have to be Rip Van Fruit snacks which contain no sweetener.
And Remember…
Ingredients and/or manufacturing processes may change. Always double-check ingredient lists and nutritional information before purchasing any food items.
WANT TO FIND MORE LOW SUGAR OPTIONS?
Do you want to learn about some other low-sugar options at your favorite coffee chains, fast food, or restaurant joints, or just while you are shopping for groceries? If you do, then check out some of my other articles below:
