Candy

57 products ranked by Scout score

Best candy right now

Solely Organic Mango & Orange Whole Fruit Gummies 88/100
Scout's analysis: USDA organic fruit gummies from Solely, Inc. made entirely from organic mango and natural orange extract with ascorbic acid — three ingredients, no added sugar, no…
SOLELY Organic Mango & Guava Fruit Gummies 88/100
Scout's analysis: USDA organic fruit gummies from Solely, Inc. made entirely from organic mango and guava with ascorbic acid. No harmful substances and no artificial ingredients. A…
L'Abbaye de Saint-Severin Framboise Melisse 88/100
Scout's analysis: French artisan candy from L'Abbaye de Saint-Severin featuring natural raspberry, apple, and lemon flavors with organic apple pectin. Uses whole fruit juices as natural…

What to skip

Sour Strips Rainbow Candy 1/100
Scout's analysis: This candy is highly processed and contains several harmful ingredients, including corn syrup, refined sugar, and artificial colors. These components contribute to high…
Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows Bag 5/100
Scout's analysis: This product is heavily processed and contains multiple harmful ingredients, including corn syrup, refined sugar, and artificial dye Blue 1. These ingredients…
Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Candy 5/100
Scout's analysis: This product is heavily penalized due to its high level of processing and the presence of multiple harmful ingredients. It contains hydrogenated vegetable oils, which…

Independently lab-tested candy

28 of the 57 products ranked here have a lab panel on their pages — each measured amount, the level it falls in and the report it comes from. The highest-scoring five:

Smart Sweets Sweet Fish 47/100
Smart Sweets Caramels 35/100
Black Forest Gummy Bears 27/100
Kit Kat 20/100
SweeTarts Ropes 17/100
and 23 more in the ranking above

Ingredients to watch in candy

The flagged ingredients that show up most often across these 57 products. Each link opens Scout's analysis of the ingredient.

Sugar in 36 of 57
Corn Syrup in 28 of 57
Red 40 in 14 of 57
Blue 1 in 13 of 57
Soy Lecithin in 10 of 57
Artificial Flavor in 10 of 57

What the better candy have in common

Cocoa Butter in 4 of 57
Coconut Oil in 3 of 57
Organic Mango in 2 of 57
Ascorbic Acid in 2 of 57
Organic Fruit and Vegetable Juice in 2 of 57

Common questions about candy

What scores highest in candy on Scout?

Solely Organic Mango & Orange Whole Fruit Gummies leads Scout's candy ranking at 88/100, followed by SOLELY Organic Mango & Guava Fruit Gummies (88) and L'Abbaye de Saint-Severin Framboise Melisse (88). Scores compare products within the category on ingredients, processing, packaging and any lab results.

What should I avoid in candy?

Sour Strips Rainbow Candy scores 1/100, the lowest of the 57 products Scout has analyzed in candy; next lowest are Jet-Puffed Mini Marshmallows Bag (5) and Reese's Pieces Peanut Butter Candy (5). Each product page lists the ingredients behind the number.

What drags scores down in candy?

Across these 57 products the most common flagged ingredients are Sugar, Corn Syrup, Red 40, Blue 1, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor. Each appears in at least two of the products ranked here.

Is anything in candy independently lab tested?

28 of the 57 products on this page carry independent lab results — Smart Sweets Sweet Fish, Smart Sweets Caramels, Black Forest Gummy Bears, Kit Kat, SweeTarts Ropes and 23 more. Each of their product pages shows the measured amounts, the level each falls in and the report they come from.

How does Scout score candy?

Every product in candy gets one 1–100 score for comparison within its category: the full ingredient list judged by a category-specific framework, the published processing level, the packaging, and any credible lab results. Lab results are disclosed, not scored. Scout takes no payment for scores or placement.

How Scout scores candy

One 1–100 score per product, judged within its category: every ingredient on the label through a category-specific framework, the published processing level, the packaging, and any credible lab results. No brand pays for a score or a position on this list. Read the full methodology →