Dots
Summary
Dots scores 11/100. Third-party 2025 testing detected 430 ppb arsenic. Titanium dioxide (EU-banned food additive over genotoxicity concerns) plus four petroleum-derived synthetic dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1) for the rainbow gumdrops. Owned by Tootsie Roll Industries.
At a glance
Contaminants 1
Source: Independent third-party laboratory testing
Arsenic 430 ppb High
Detected at a high level — at or above health-based exposure limits. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. No safe level of arsenic exposure exists; chronic exposure is linked to increased cancer risk (lung, skin, kidney, bladder), cardiovascular disease, and neurodevelopmental harm in children.
Independent third-party testing detected arsenic at 430 parts per billion — a severe contamination level.
Key ingredients 12
Corn SyrupVery Bad
First ingredient — industrial glucose.
See more about Corn Syrup →SugarVery Bad
Second sweetener.
See more about Sugar →Modified Food Starch (Corn)Bad
Chemically modified corn starch — the product's gel structure.
See more about Modified Food Starch (Corn) →Malic AcidNeutral
Tartness acidulant.
See more about Malic Acid →Natural & Artificial FlavorsBad
Mix of proprietary and undisclosed synthetic flavor compounds.
See more about Natural & Artificial Flavors →Sodium LactateNeutral
pH buffer.
See more about Sodium Lactate →Lactic AcidNeutral
pH stabilizer.
See more about Lactic Acid →Titanium DioxideVery Bad
Banned as a food additive in the EU (2022) after EFSA concluded it could not be considered safe.
See more about Titanium Dioxide →Red 40Very Bad
Petroleum-derived synthetic dye.
See more about Red 40 →Yellow 5Very Bad
Petroleum-derived synthetic dye.
See more about Yellow 5 →Yellow 6Very Bad
Petroleum-derived synthetic dye.
See more about Yellow 6 →Blue 1Very Bad
Petroleum-derived synthetic dye.
See more about Blue 1 →Processing
Ultra-Processed Foods
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