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Choosing Healthy Freezer Pops

Choosing Healthy Freezer Pops

Freezer pops are a popular summer treat that you can freeze a few hours before enjoying. While there are a couple brands offering healthier fruit-juice based options, most freezer pops are just sugary water with artificial colors and flavors.

This comprehensive guide details what to look for and what to avoid when choosing healthier freezer pops.

The healthiest freezer pops:

  • Fruit juice as the first ingredient
  • No added sugars
  • Avoid artificial colors, preservatives, and artificial flavors
  • No gums or thickeners

Ideally, fruit juice should be the first and only ingredient in a freezer pop.  Unfortunately, unless you make your own, there are additional ingredients in freezer pops. As with all packaged foods, it is important to read the ingredients carefully.

What to look for when choosing a healthy freezer pop

1. Fruit juice is the first ingredient in healthy freezer pops

Healthy fruit roll ups made with real fruit

Ideally, fruit juice should be the first and only ingredient in healthy freezer pops. While fruit juice is not as nutrient dense as whole fruit or even a fruit puree, it is a better choice than flavored sugar water.

Some freezer pops contain fruit puree, but the amount is minimal. Whole fruit and fruit purees contains fiber.  In general, the more fiber a product contains, the more whole fruit in the treat.

Unfortunately, none of the freezer pops we evaluated contained enough fiber to be listed on the Nutrition Facts label.

Recommendation: Choose freezer pops with fruit juice as the first ingredient.

2. Healthy freezer pops avoid added sugar

Healthy almond milk should contain little to no added sugar

Freezer pops should be primarily fruit juice. As such, there is no need for added sugar in frozen juice pops.

A little added sugar is okay in a healthy diet. However, the typical American eats almost a half cup of added sugar each day and this excess sugar consumption is making us overweight and chronically ill.

Corn syrup, tapioca syrup, and cane sugar are all forms of added sugar that are common ingredients in freezer pops. 

What about concentrated fruit juice?

The FDA considers fruit juice concentrates to be a form of added sugar if the juice concentrate is not fully diluted back to a normal juice amount. (1)  

So, a juice concentrate can be counted as added sugar, depending on how much water is in the food product.

Fruit juice concentrates do not need to be listed as added sugar if they include enough water to dilute the concentrate to juice.

What about non-nutritive sweeteners?

A few of the freezer pops we evaluated contain stevia, a non-nutritive natural sweetener. Our evaluation of healthy popsicles provides detailed information on artificial sweeteners and other non-nutritive sweeteners.

Recommendation:  When choosing a freezer pop, look for one with no added sugar on the ingredient list. That will help you know it is made with fruit juice.

3. Healthy Freezer Pops Avoid Artificial Colors

Many popular freezer pop brands contain artificial colors.  

Though considered safe by the FDA, some children have been found to have negative reactions to artificial food coloring.(2) And many common artificial food dyes have been shown to cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.(3) 

Though only small amounts of artificial coloring are used in foods, such as freezer pops, it is advisable to avoid products that contain any artificial food coloring.

Recommendation: Read the ingredient list and avoid any foods that contain colors and numbers (ie Red 40). There are a few freezer pop brands that use natural food colors.

4. Healthy Freezer Pops Avoid Preservatives

Most popular freezer pops contain artificial preservatives.

Though considered safe by the FDA, there is evidence that artificial preservatives can cause intolerance reactions and hypersensitivity in some people.

Specifically, several studies have shown that people already prone to skin reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, and asthma may be intolerant of low doses of food preservatives, such as sodium benzoate. (4, 5)

Typical artificial preservatives in freezer pops include sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative used in foods such as salad dressings, carbonated drinks, fruit juices, pickles and condiments.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used in foods such as cheese, wine, soft drinks, fruit drinks, and baked goods.

Recommendation: It is best to avoid any foods with artificial preservatives, especially for people sensitive to allergic reactions.

4. Healthy Freezer Pops Avoid Artificial Flavors

Many popular freezer pops contain artificial flavors.

Artificial flavors are made by combining many different chemicals. The exact combination used to create a flavor is proprietary and companies are not required list individual ingredients on a food label.

Most chemicals in artificial flavors also occur in nature and are probably safe. However, the FDA does not review the safety of artificial flavors. (6)

In 2018, the FDA banned seven artificial flavor ingredients found to cause cancer in animal studies. (7)

Recommendation: It is best to avoid any foods with artificial flavors.

5. Healthy Freezer Pops Avoid Highly Processed Gums

healthy almond milk should avoid gums and thickeners

Frozen treats often contain gums and other thickeners to prevent ice crystal formation and improve a food’s texture.

Gums and thickeners are highly processed and can sometimes cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Typical gums and other thickeners in freezer pops include guar gum, gum acacia, and carboxy methyl celluose.

Guar Gum.  Guar gum is a polysaccharide (polymer of sugar) made from the seeds of the guar plant. It is a soluble fiber that our bodies can not digest. However, gut bacteria can ferment guar gum. (8)

Guar Acacia.  Guar acacia, also called gum arabic is a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides (made from dried sap of Acacia trees. It is soluble fiber our bodies can not digest and is only slightly fermented by gut bacteria. (9, 10)

Carboxymethyl cellulose.  Also cellulose gum, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is polysaccharide manufactured from cellulose, found in the cellular walls of plants.

The FDA considers CMS a “generally regarded as safe” food additive. However, growing research links CMC to inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowl disease. (11)

Recommendation: While it is best to avoid foods containing gums and other thickeners, small amounts of guar gum and guar acacia are probably fine unless you experience gastrointestinal discomfort or are following a specific diet. Avoid foods containing carboxymehtyl cellulose.

What freezer pops are healthy?

We evaluated popular strawberry frozen fruit popsicles based on the following criteria. (12-22)

Criteria used to evaluate Freezer Pops

Criteria used to evaluate freezer pops.  The healthiest ice pops have fruit juice as their first ingredient, no added sugar, gums or thickeners

Freezer pops vary in size, depending on brand. To compare between products, all nutrition information below is for a 1.5 oz (43 gram) serving. To help compare between brands, added sugar is listed in total grams, teaspoons (red spoons), and percent of frozen treat.

Types of added sugar are red.  Types of non-nutritive sweeteners are in red italics.  Thickeners and gums are in italics. Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are bold.

Examples of healthy freezer pops

Unfortunately, none of the freezer pops we evaluated can be considered truly healthy. Even the healthiest 100% fruit juice options contain some form of gum or thickener.

The healthiest freezer pop brands

While no store-bought freezer pops meet our stringent guidelines for “healthy”, there are a few brands that are perfectly okay for the occasional treat.

Below is a list of the healthiest freezer pop brands.

goodpop Organic Freezer Pops

Nutritional Information for goodpop Organic Freezer Pops Strawberry Lemonade flavor

goodpop Organic Freezer Pops Strawberry Lemonade Ingredients: Filtered water, organic apple juice (from concentrate), organic cherry juice (from concentrate), malic acid, organic guar gum, organic natural flavors, fruit and vegetable juice for color

Reasons to consider goodpop Organic Freezer Pops:

  • Fruit juice is the primary ingredient
  • Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

Reasons why you may want to think twice about buying goodpop Organic Freezer Pops:

  • Contains guar gum, a highly-processed gum and thickener

DeeBee’s Organics Super Fruit Freezie

Nutritional Information for DeeBee's Organics Super Fruit Freezies

DeeBee’s Organics Super Fruit Freezie Strawberry Lemon Ingredients: Organic white grape juice (water, white grape juice concentrate), organic apple juice (water, apple juice concentrate), organic strawberry puree, organic lemon juice (water, lemon juice concentrate), organic guar gum, organic strawberry flavor

Reasons to consider DeeBee’s Organics Super Fruit Freezies:

  • Fruit juice is the primary ingredient
  • Contains some fruit puree
  • Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

Reasons why you may want to think twice about buying DeeBee’s Organics Super Fruit Freezies:

  • Contains guar gum, a highly-processed gum and thickener

Welch’s Organic Juice Ice Bars

Nutritional Information for Welch's Organic Juice Ice Bars Concord Grape Flavor

Welch’s Organic Juice Ice Bars Concord Grape Ingredients: Water, concentrated white grape juice, concentrated concord grape juice, cellulose gum, guar gum, gum arabic, malic acid, natural flavor

Reasons to consider Welch’s Organic Juice Ice Bars:

  • Fruit juice is the primary ingredient

Reasons why you may want to think twice about buying Welch’s Organic Juice Ice Bars:

  • Contains cellulose gum, guar gum, and gum arabic; highly-processed gums and thickeners

Freezer Pops to avoid:

Most store-bought Freezer Pops are not healthy options.  They often are simply sugar water with artificial colors and preservatives. It is best to avoid the following freezer pops.

Jonny Pops Organic Freezer Pops

Nutritional information for Jonny Pops organic freezer pops

Jonny Pops Organic Freezer Pops Cherry Flavor Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, apple juice from concentrate, guar gum, malic acid, natural pineapple flavor, natural orange flavor, natural cherry flavor, organic fruit and vegetable juice for color, stevia extract

Reasons to think twice before buying Jonny Pops Organic Freezer Pops:

  • Sweetened primarily with sugar, not fruit juice
  • Contains guar gum, a highly-processed gum and thickener
  • Sweetened with stevia, a non-nutritive sweetener

Welch’s Freeze Pops

Welch's Freeze Pops nutritional information

Welch’s Freeze Pops Concord Grape Ingredients: Water, sugar, apple juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, fruit and vegetable juice for color, stevia extract

Reasons to avoid buying Welch’s Freeze Pops:

  • Sweetened with sugar in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, a highly-processed gum and thickener that has been linked to inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowl disease. (6)
  • Contains artificial preservatives
  • Sweetened with stevia, a non-nutritive sweetener

Otter Pops 100% Fruit Juice Ice Pops

Nutritional Information for Otter Pops 100% Fruit Juice Ice Pops

Otter Pops 100% Fruit Juice Ice Pops Ingredients: water, apple juice from concentrate, sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate

Reasons to avoid buying Otter Pops 100% Fruit Juice Ice Pops:

  • Sweetened with sugar in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains artificial preservatives

Otter Pops Original Ice Pops

Nutritional information for Otter Pops Original Ice Pops

Otter Pops Original Ice Pops Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, apple and pear juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1

Reasons to avoid buying Otter Pops Original Ice Pops:

  • Sweetened with high fructose corn syrup in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors

Fla Vor Ice Real Fruit Juice Freezer Pops

Fla Vor Ice 35% Fruit Juice Freezer Pops nutritional information

Fla Vor Ice Real Fruit Juice Freezer Pops Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, apple juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1

Reasons to avoid Fla Vor Ice Real Fruit Juice Freezer Pops:

  • Sweetened with high fructose corn syrup in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors
  • “Real Fruit” in the name is a marketing claim. Contain the same ingredients as the original Fla-Vor-Ice Freezer Pops

Fla Vor Ice Freezer Pops

Fla Vor Ice Freezer Pops nutritional information

Fla Vor Ice Freezer Pops Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, apple and pear juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1

Reasons to avoid Fla Vor Ice Freezer Pops:

  • Sweetened with high fructose corn syrup in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors

Pop Ice Freeze From Home Pops

Pop Ice Freeze From Home Pops nutritional information

Pop Ice Freeze From Home Pops Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, apple and pear juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1

Reasons to avoid Pop Ice Freeze From Home Pops:

  • Sweetened with high fructose corn syrup in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors

Kool Pops Freezer Pops

Kool Pops Freezer Pops nutritional information

Kool Pops Freezer Pops Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, apple and pear juice from concentrate, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1

Reasons to avoid Kool Pops Freezer Pops:

  • Sweetened with high fructose corn syrup in addition to fruit juice
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors

Mr. Freeze Freeze Pops

Mr. Freeze Freeze Pops nutritional information

Mr. Freeze Freeze Pops Ingredients: Water, glucose-fructose/sugar, citric acid, artificial flavors, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, stevia extract, color

Reasons to avoid Mr. Freeze Freeze Pops:

  • Sweetened with glucose-fructose syrup (high fructose corn syrup) and sugar
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors
  • Contains sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, a highly-processed gum and thickener that has been linked to inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowl disease. (6)
  • Sweetened with stevia, a non-nutritive sweetener

Fun Pops Fruit Flavored Freezer Pops

Fun Pops Fruit Flavored Freezer Pops Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural and artificial flavorings, artificial coloring, gum acacia, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate

Reasons to avoid Fun Pops Fruit Flavored Freezer Pops:

  • Sweetened with glucose-fructose syrup (high fructose corn syrup) and sugar
  • Contains artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and artificial colors
  • Contains guar acacia, a highly-processed gum and thickener

Conclusions about choosing a healthy freezer pop

When it comes to finding a healthy-ish freezer pop, simple ingredients are best.  Look for an ice pop made with 100% juice that avoids artificial preservatives, colors and flavors.

Check out these other product evaluations:

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Do you know how to choose healthy freezer pops? This comprehensive guide walks you through what to look for and what ingredients to avoid!

References:

  1. Definition of Added Sugar, FDA Federal Register, May 2016, § 101.9(c)(6)(iii) (link)
  2. Mechanisms of behavioral, atopic, and other reactions to artificial food colors in children. L Stevens, T Kuczek, J Burgess, M Stochelski, L Arnold, L Galland, Nutr Rev (2013) 71 (5):268-281 (link)
  3. Center for Science in the Public Interest. Chemical Cuisine: Artificial Food Coloring (link)
  4. Re-evaluation of benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, and calcium benzoate as food additives, EFSA Website (link)
  5. Center for Science in the Public Interest. Sodium Benzoate (link)
  6. Center for Science in the Public Interest. Artificial Flavors (link)
  7. FDA Removes 7 Synthetic Flavoring Substances from Food Additives List, FDA Website (link)
  8. Re-evaluation of guar gum as a food additive, EFSA Website, (link)
  9. Re-evaluation of acacia gum as a food additive, EFSA Website, (link)
  10. Gum arabic, Wikipedia (link)
  11. The Role of Carrageenan and Carboxymethylcellulose in the Development of Intestinal Inflammation, Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2017, 5: 96 (link)
  12. goodpop website (link)
  13. DeeBee’s Organics website (link)
  14. Welch’s Organic Juice Ice Bars packaging
  15. Jonny Pops website (link)
  16. Welch’s Freeze Pops packaging
  17. Otter Pops website (link)
  18. Flavorice website (link)
  19. Pop Ice Freeze From Home Pops packaging
  20. Kool Pops Freezer Pops packaging
  21. Mr. Freeze Freeze Pops, Kisko Freezies website (link)
  22. Fun Pops Fruit Flavored Freezer Pops packaging