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Barcode 888109010049
AVOIDHostess Twinkies Golden Sponge Cake is rated AVOID by BannedPantry: its label lists 6 ingredients that are banned or restricted outside the US — Partially Hydrogenated Oil (EU, UK, Canada); Red 40 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); Yellow 5 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); BHA (California, EU); BHT (EU, UK); High Fructose Corn Syrup (EU (tax/restricted)). All of them are still legal to sell in the US.
Banned or restricted in: EU, UK, Canada
Canada prohibits PHOs by listing them on Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances (in force 17 Sept 2018); the EU limits industrial trans fat to 2 g per 100 g of fat under Regulation (EU) 2019/649. US FDA also revoked GRAS status for PHOs (effective June 2018).
Banned or restricted in: EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)
Southampton Six colour (Allura Red, E129): EU-AUTHORISED but foods containing it must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. Many manufacturers reformulate for the EU/UK instead.
Banned or restricted in: EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)
Southampton Six colour (tartrazine, E102): EU-AUTHORISED but foods must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'.
Same category, none of the flagged ingredients.
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Enriched bleached wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), corn syrup, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, water, vegetable and/or animal shortening (partially hydrogenated beef fat with BHA/BHT and citric acid), whole eggs, dextrose, cellulose gum, soy fiber, whey, leavenings (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), salt, cornstarch, corn flour, corn syrup solids, mono & diglycerides, soy lecithin, polysorbate 60, dextrin, calcium caseinate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, wheat gluten, calcium sulphate, natural & artificial flavors, caramel color, Yellow 5, Red 40.
No — every ingredient in Hostess Twinkies Golden Sponge Cake is currently legal to sell in the US. However, Partially Hydrogenated Oil, Red 40, Yellow 5, BHA, BHT, High Fructose Corn Syrup are banned or restricted in other regions: Partially Hydrogenated Oil (EU, UK, Canada); Red 40 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); Yellow 5 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); BHA (California, EU); BHT (EU, UK); High Fructose Corn Syrup (EU (tax/restricted)).
Partially Hydrogenated Oil: Canada prohibits PHOs by listing them on Part 1 of the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances (in force 17 Sept 2018); the EU limits industrial trans fat to 2 g per 100 g of fat under Regulation (EU) 2019/649. US FDA also revoked GRAS status for PHOs (effective June 2018). Red 40: Southampton Six colour (Allura Red, E129): EU-AUTHORISED but foods containing it must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. Many manufacturers reformulate for the EU/UK instead. Yellow 5: Southampton Six colour (tartrazine, E102): EU-AUTHORISED but foods must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. BHA: Listed under California Proposition 65 as a carcinogen (since 1990), requiring a warning; EU permits it only as an antioxidant (E320) at limited maximum levels. IARC Group 2B. Plus 2 more — see the full list above.
BannedPantry checks each labeled ingredient against food and cosmetic safety standards from the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and California, with a citation for every flag. AVOID means at least one labeled ingredient is banned or restricted by a major overseas regulator, or is high-severity under our methodology. Ratings are never influenced by brands.
Comparable products without the flagged ingredients include Thrive Market Organic Pantry Starter Box (Thrive Market), Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers Variety (Simple Mills), Bob's Red Mill Organic Rolled Oats (Bob's Red Mill). You can also scan any product's barcode free at https://bannedpantry.com to check it before you buy.
See exactly which ingredients in Hostess Twinkies Golden Sponge Cake are banned overseas, with sources.
Scan now →BannedPantry — Our scores are never influenced by brands.
Banned or restricted in: California, EU
Listed under California Proposition 65 as a carcinogen (since 1990), requiring a warning; EU permits it only as an antioxidant (E320) at limited maximum levels. IARC Group 2B.
Banned or restricted in: EU, UK
EU/UK authorise BHT (E321) only in specified foods at limited maximum levels under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and not in foods for infants/young children; the US permits broader GRAS use.
Banned or restricted in: EU (tax/restricted)
EU imposes production quotas and taxes on isoglucose; linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver.