Are Sour Belts Bad for You? A Deep Dive into the Truth

Sour belts are vividly colored, tangy candy that is commonly packaged in long strips coated with sour powder and is often available in the candy aisles. Many young consumers have special childhood memories relating to sour belts. However, with increasing health consciousness, more and more people are starting to question whether sweet and sour candies are a “benign pleasure” or a potential risk to their health.

In this article, LeChao Candy will examine whether sour belts are indeed harmful and the reasons for that judgment from multiple angles, including nutritional information, sugar content, acidity, and recommended serving size.

Main Ingredients and Nutritional Structure of Sour Belts

Generally, the ingredients for sour belts typically include sugar, glucose syrup, gelatin, pectin, citric acid, artificial flavoring, and food coloring. The sour powder coating comes from either citric acid or malic acid, and provides the candy with the sour taste.

From a nutritional standpoint, sour belts typically contain an average of more than 60 grams of sugar per 100 grams of candy, which is nearly double the recommended daily limit of sugar (which is 25 grams of free sugar per day). Sour belts are low in fiber, protein, or vitamins, which means they are “high in sugar, high in energy, and low nutrient density.”

Occasional consumption of sour belts assumes no risk to health but over time, consumption can lead to unwanted and poor diet related health complications including obesity, and cavities, and poor blood sugar control. Consumption of sour belts should be monitored, especially in childhood.

Acidity and Dental Health: The Hidden Dangers of Sweet and Sour

The sour powder is what gives sour belts their sourness, and that acidity is detrimental to the teeth. Citric acid and malic are two types of common food acidifiers, and they soften tooth enamel, which makes tooth surfaces more vulnerable to erosion.
The American Dental Association (ADA) published a study that found food with a pH level lower than 4 can significantly increase the risk of exposing tooth enamel. Most sour belts tend to have a surface pH range of 2.5 – 3.5, which is considered quite acidic. If you do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth shortly after consuming sour belts, the combination of acid and sugar will likely cause tooth decay or sensitivity.

Consumption Recommendations:

• It’s advised to rinse your mouth with water rather than brushing your teeth immediately after eating sour belts; brushing too soon can hasten enamel wear.
• Limit consumption to no more than two times a week.
• Parents should supervise children eating sour belts to avoid children eating an excessive amount.

Sugar and Energy: The Hidden “Sweet Trap”

The excessive sugar content of sour belts is likely their most frequent criticism. Each sour belt has about 6-10 grams of sugar, or about one teaspoon of sugar. If I want to eat five belts at once, then 50 grams of sugar can be taken in, which is already over the recommended daily amount for an adult.

Eating high amounts of sugar can cause more than just weight gain. Having high blood sugar levels means your body produces insulin quickly, causing the blood sugar to drop, and then causes hunger, fatigue, and mood swings. A high-sugar diet over time has also been tied to increased risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Additionally, some sour belts have high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a sweetener that is known to burden the liver and inhibit fat metabolism. If you really like these candies, I would suggest finding a “reduced sugar” or “no added sugar” sour belt, and then balance it with healthy and nutritious food options to mitigate health risk.

Artificial Colors and Additives: Hidden Ingredients Worth Watching

Aside from sugar, the artificial colors and flavors in sour belts are also the center of dispute with respect to health. Bright pink, blue, and green fruity candy belts often contain synthetic colors such as FD&C Red 40, Yellow 5, or Blue 1. Some evidence suggests a connection between these artificial colors and symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. The evidence isn’t conclusive yet, but the fact that countries in Europe have mandated warnings for these colors is an indicator of some correlation.

In some sweet and sour candy belts, artificial flavorings, or synthetic chemicals, have been added to enhance the fruity flavor, however, specifically around sweet, sour, and chemical fruity flavorings, it should be noted that if these sweeteners and flavorings are consumed over a prolonged period of time then it may affect the metabolic capabilities of the liver and cause damage to the tissue over time.

Healthier Alternatives:

• Choose sour belts made with natural colorings (such as beetroot red and spirulina blue).
• Pay attention to product ingredient lists to avoid products containing artificial flavors or preservatives.
• Choose brands with food safety certifications to ensure they are sourced responsibly.

Healthy Eating Tips: Limit Your Sour Belt Consumption

Sour belts are not the most healthful food to eat, but completely avoiding sour belts is not practical either. The answer to being able to enjoy sour belts is frequency and portion size. Below are a few suggestions allowing you to enjoy their tart and sweet taste without too much worry:

1. Eat at meal time: Eating sour belts after a meal will reduce the amount of time that the acid and sugar make direct contact with your teeth.
2. Don’t consume on an empty stomach: The acetic acid on an empty stomach can irritate the stomach lining easily, causing discomfort.
3. Drink lots of water or sugar-free tea: These drinks help to neutralize the acid in the stomach and flush any sugar that may be left in your stomach.
4. Substitute some candy with fruit: Natural fruit will more than likely also satisfy your taste buds and provide vitamins and dietary fiber.
5. Choose products from reputable manufacturers: High-end or professional candy manufacturers like LeChao Candy have stable formulation and better product safety; they follow mutant food safety regulations for the international marketplace.

Conclusion

Are sour belts dangerous? That’s a relative answer. Once in a while isn’t a problem, but if frequently consumed, over a long period of time and in excessive quantity, sour belts do pose an increased risk for dental cavities, higher blood sugar levels and imbalances in nutrition.

The best advice may be learning to limit sweet treats, thinking of sour belts as a single “little pleasure” rather than an everyday entertainment. If you are able to limit the sweet treats and decide better choices, you can achieve “sweet without mucking up pages of the story and bliss without regret.”

À propos de LeChao Candy

Depuis sa création en 1991, LeChao Candy has become a contemporary candy manufacturer that specializes in the development, research, and production of soft candies, licorice candies, jelly beans, marshmallows, and chocolate candies.

We have industry-leading custom candy capabilities and also have over 500 candy molds in stock which represent the most popular candy shapes available in the world today.

LeChao Candy provides global customers with:

• Customized formulation services: to meet specific brand flavor requirements;
• Fast quotes and sample development: to help reduce new product time to market;
• A strict quality control program: that meets ISO and HACCP programs;
• Logistical support worldwide: to ensure safe and efficient delivery.

With over 30 years of candy manufacturing experience, LeChao Candy is more than just a soft candy manufacturer. We are a reliable partner for dessert brands around the world. Contact us for a product catalog and quote!