12 ice cream brands that use inferior ingredients (2023)

For ice cream lovers there are on-site freezersgreengroceris a wonderland of different flavors and interesting ice cream specialties fromsweet sandwichesfor single portions. But if you literally want the best of the best when it comes to herchallenging frozen balls, just know that not all brands of ice cream are created equal.

What distinguishes a high-quality ice cream from an inferior ice cream? The fewer ingredients, the better, they sayMelissa Mitri, MS, RD, Nutrition Author and Owner ofMelissa Mitri diet. Registered Dietitian and AuthorJaclyn London,MS, RD, CDN, agrees that the best ice creams start with just a few typical ingredients like milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. Additionally, London notes that when enjoying ice cream, something that is "very low in calories is usually a good indicator that it may not be as filling as the real thing."

Of course not allPremium ice cream brandsLimit your ingredient lists to cream, milk, sugar, and flavorings. However, there are some low-quality ingredients that nutritionists like London and Mitry say are best avoided, including artificial flavors and colors, sugar substitutes, sugar alcohols, and certain thickeners.

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Not only are Blue Ribbon Classics frozen treats actually not ice cream (the brand).describesas "frozen milk dessert"), but the ingredients list gives several warning signs. First off, the Homemade Vanilla brand uses artificial flavors as well as several unsafe thickeners: cellulose gel, cellulose gum, and guar gum. Mitry said those artificial flavors and thickeners mean the ice cream may not taste as natural and the quality and texture may not be as good.

"Cellulose gels and gums can also be difficult to digest and cause uncomfortable digestive side effects in some people," says Mitri.

Other Blue Ribbon Classics flavors such asNeapolitan, contains artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1, which Mitri says should be avoided whenever possible. Although the Food and Drug Administrationapprovedboth food colorings, red 40 varrelated to intestinal diseasesin mice in a study published last year.

It can be tempting for calorie-conscious consumers to reach for itNick's Swedish style light ice cream. These brightly colored pints have between 200 and 400 calories in the whole container, and some flavors provide up to 11 grams of protein.

However, these diets are not as harmless as they seem. Nick's frozen desserts contain guar gum, one of the thickening agents that can indicate an inferior texture.

Nick's ice cream also contains sugar alcoholErythritol, London says, can cause gas, gas, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhea when consumed in large amounts. Because these lighter ice cream flavors tend to be lower in fat than traditional frozen ice cream flavors, consumers may also feel less satisfied after one serving and overcompensate by eating the entire pack (and thereby more erythritol), says London.

Some of the same ingredient issues that plague Nick's ice cream can also be found in the brand's frozen treatsrebel, which sells full-fat, keto-friendly ice cream.The packaging of the Rebel Pints ​​emphasizes the fact that the ice cream contains no added sugar, but makes up for this deficiency with more sugarErythrit.

Guar gum is also found again in Rebel ice creams. In addition to the potential textural issues that come with guar gum, the thickening agent can also cause digestive issues like bloating and bloatingWebMD.Between erythritol and guar gum, consumers with particularly sensitive stomachs may be better off keeping this option in the freezer.

There is a growing pattern of inferior ingredients among these ice cream brands. BothfastAndbonusDairy brand Kemps' ice cream lines have a recurring villain: guar gum. Kemp's regular ice cream also uses high fructose corn syrup, which may contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance and high blood pressureCleveland Clinic.

To complete them, sureKemp's tasteUse artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1, which Mitri says are best avoided. A look at the lengthy ingredient lists of some of these flavors shows you're a long way from the simple combination of milk, cream, and sugar that makes quality ice cream.

Halo Top is a popular brand of ice cream that's considered healthier than regular ice cream due to its lower sugar and fat content. However, Halo Top's appeal diminishes a bit when you read the ingredient lists. First, it contains many variationsErythritcellulose gel and cellulose gum. When people consume whole pints, which Halo Top says is fine with their low-calorie ice cream, they may experience increased digestive side effects from these potentially problematic fattening foods.

Take a look at the packaging of most Blue Bunny "ice cream" flavors and you'll notice the conspicuous absence of the words "ice cream." Instead, terms like "frozen dairy dessert" may appear. Why; Because many of their products aren't technically ice cream. The brand has also been guilty of relying on someArtificial flavors. You'll also see qualifications like "Vanilla flavor“Rather than just vanilla, because that too is often a version of the flavor made with low-quality artificial ingredients.

Good Humor's ice cream products have been loved for generations - largely because they turned up in a truck at just the right time on hot summer days - may be popular but not of high quality. Take the company's classicStrawberry Shortcake Bar, e.g. The long list of ingredients includes guar gum and artificial colors such as Red 40 andRot 3. The latter is FDA approved for food use.MenStudies have shownthat dyes in very high doses can cause cancer in animals.

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Friendly's may not be for you if you want to follow the philosophy that less is more when it comes to the ingredients of a quality ice cream. And if guar gum, whey protein concentrate, whey, thickeners, and emulsifiers don't turn you off the label, it might be fat and cholesterol. A serving of Friendly's has 150 caloriesClassic chocolateThe flavor contains 11 grams of total fat, five grams of saturated fat, and 13 grams of sugar.

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Here's another classic and popular frozen treat that's better not to try. These chocolate dipped ice cream balls are made from very low quality ingredients. Let's mention just four of themYou will find more than 25 ingredientsin the classic vanilla drum flavor: milk solids (this is a first, FYI, no cream or milk), cellulose gel, cellulose gum, and guar gum.

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Sure, Baskin Robbins is one of the most successful chains out there, and yes, you probably loved it as a kid, but even nostalgia can't make up for some awkward additions to the brand's ingredient lists. In the brandCaramel FlavorFor example, you can still find unwanted thickeners like cellulose gum and guar gum that can lead to uncomfortable digestive issues. It probably won't be the most natural ice either, like more Baskin RobbinsSortercontain artificial flavors.

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According to one, Blue Bell Ice Cream has a popularity problemDie MooseInvestigation, most people think it's the worst ice cream they can buy. Maybe because the brand also has an issue with the quality of the ingredients. The companysHomemade vanilla flavorcontains high fructose corn syrup, cellulose gum and guar gum.Other flavorsadd modified food starch, artificial colors, mono and diglycerides,and more. How about milk, cream and sugar?

Turkey Hill's ice cream may be one of the most well-known brands of ice cream out of the supermarket, but the extensive ingredient list of the company's frozen treats is anything but high-quality. TheOriginal VanilleFlavor, for example, again lists the potentially problematic cellulose gums and gels, as well as artificial flavors. Other thingstaste goodThey rely on artificial dyes for their color.

A previous version of this article was published in September 2022. It has been updated to include new information.