Information updated May 2024

A special report for the savvy readers of Consumer World:

There are several examples of food and beverages whose ingredients we think are identical but they are actually different.

MINUTE MAID LEMONADE

Shown below, Minute Maid Lemonade Carton vs. Can: The branding and graphics are almost identical on the Minute Maid Lemonade Carton  — below left — and Minute Maid Lemonade Can — below right — suggesting the liquid inside each is the same. However, the Minute Maid Lemonade in the Carton is not the same Lemonade as the Can.

The Carton has 8 ingredients and is 12% juice, while the Can has 11 ingredients and is only 3% juice. Each one has ingredients not found in the other. 

THE CARTON: Minute Maid in a Carton contains two Artificial Sweeteners, added Pectin and Lemon Pulp.

THE CAN: The physical nature of the can, how the cans are distributed and the need for the liquid to remain viable without refrigeration led to the addition of four Chemical Preservatives and low Lemon Juice content plus there is an Artificial Color.

CHEEZ-IT CRACKERS

Cheez-It Original vs. Extra Cheesy: It seems reasonable to believe the only difference between Cheez-It Original  — below left — and Cheez-It Extra Cheesy — below right — is that Extra Cheesy Cheez-It crackers have extra Cheese. In this case, the ingredients would be identical and there would just be more of the Cheese in the Extra Cheesy version. Simple, right?

In reality, Extra Cheesy Cheez-It crackers have multiple ingredients beyond Cheese which are not in the Original Cheez-It crackers including Yeast Extract, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sugar, Natural Flavor and three Flavor Enhancers which are banned at Whole Foods Market >> MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate. (Sources: Kellogg’s Cheez-It Web site 5/24: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 5/24)

REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Peanut Butter Cups vs. Reese’s Thins: You might think they have the same ingredients, but they don’t >> Reese’s Thins — below right — have ingredients not found in Reese’s Original Peanut Butter Cups including Vegetable Oil(s) and two Hydrogenated Oils >> Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Oil.

Both of these Reese’s products are banned at Whole Foods for the Chemical Preservative, TBHQ >> Tert-Butylhydroquinone but Hydrogenated Oils are also banned at Whole Foods so the Reese’s Thins contain three ingredients banned at Whole Foods. (Sources: Hershey Hersheyland Web site 5/24; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 5/24)

HI-C ORANGE LAVABURST

Hi-C Orange Lavaburst Box vs. Fountain: The Hi-C Orange Lavaburst in a juice box — below left — is not the same as the Hi-C Orange Lavaburst at McDonald’s — below right. They are both Far From Homemade™, but the Hi-C Orange Lavaburst at McDonald’s has a third Chemical Preservative, no real juice, more Chemical Preservatives and contains two Artificial Colors.

The Hi-C at McDonald’s is significantly higher in Added Sugar >> the 6oz. Hi-C juice box contains 10 grams of Added Sugar and a 12oz. Extra Small Hi-C at McDonald’s contains 29 grams of Added Sugar. (Sources: Coca-Cola Hi-C Web site 5/24; McDonald’s Web site 5/24)

PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE

Although both are designated as “Original”, the Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese in the Brick — below left — has 5 ingredients while there are 13 ingredients in Philadelphia Original Whipped Cream Cheese Spread — below right.

WHEYS and GUMS in the SPREAD: Added to give the product a softer, spreadable consistency.

PRESERVATIVES in the SPREAD: Added to keep the product fresher longer since the Cream Cheese has greater exposure to oxygen while it is in use; once the lid is open, the entire surface is exposed to oxygen and the lid usually stays off for a minute or more. (Source: Kraft Heinz Philadelphia Cream Cheese Web site 5/24)

COFFEE MATE

Although both are designated as “The Original”, the ingredients in the Coffee mate Singles are not identical to the ingredients in the Coffee mate Bottle. The first three ingredients in the Coffee mate Original Singles — below left — are Water, Coconut Oil and Sugar while the first three ingredients in the Coffee mate Original Bottle — below right — are Water, Corn Syrup Solids and Vegetable Oil(s) including possibly High Oleic Soybean Oil. (Sources: Nestlé Coffee mate package on Walmart Web site 5/24; Nestlé goodNes Web site 8/24)

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