WHAT'S IN WHIPPED TOPPINGS?
WHIPPED TOPPINGS — FAR FROM HOMEMADE™
Information updated September 2024
Manufactured whipped toppings are Far From Homemade because their very origin is a product of frozen food science.
Kraft Heinz-owned Cool Whip is the #1 Whipped Topping in the U.S. (Source: Statista 2024)
Let’s do a Then vs. Now comparison of Cool Whip.
COOL WHIP THEN Source: Historical Birds Eye Cool Whip Package
Cool Whip is an acknowledged product of freezer science from Birds Eye, the company who created the concept frozen foods. Mr. Clarence Birdseye is considered the founder of the modern frozen food industry.
Although it contained multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen™ — ingredients we would never have in our home kitchens — Cool Whip once contained real Sugar and real Vanilla.
COOL WHIP NOW Sources: Kraft Heinz Web site 9/24; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 9/24
The number one ingredient in Cool Whip is still Water. Water is cited as a Not In Kitchen ingredient because we would never add Water to a whipped topping at home. Ingredients are always listed in descending order of amount, so Water is the primary ingredient in Cool Whip and the majority of other commercial whipped toppings.
The Sugar has changed to High Fructose Corn Syrup + Corn Syrup and there is no longer any real Vanilla. Cool Whip is made with Hydrogenated Coconut & Palm Kernel Oils with added Artificial Flavor and Natural Flavor, two Gums, Modified Food Starch, Polysorbate 60 and Sorbitan Monostearate which is an Emulsifying Agent that keeps the ingredients from separating.
ACCORDING TO STATISTA 2024, REDDI-WIP IS THE #2 WHIPPED TOPPING IN THE U.S. Reddi-wip is an aerosol whipped topping made by Conagra. Here’s a look at three Reddi-wip products: Non-Dairy Coconut Milk, Fat Free and Original. These Reddi-wip products contain numerous commercial ingredients Not In Kitchen such as Water, Maltodextrin, Pea Protein, Emulsifying Agents, Gums, Thickening Agents and added Flavors. (Source: Conagra Reddi-wip Web site 9/24)
Conagra states, “With Reddi-wip. great is only an instant away.”
DREAM WHIP: In addition to Cool Whip, Kraft Heinz also makes Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix which is also banned at Whole Foods. (Sources: Kraft Heinz Dream Whip package on Walmart Web site 9/24; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 9/24) Dream Whip is made from ingredients we would never have at home in our kitchens.
A 2.6oz. package of Kraft Heinz Dream Whip is $3.79 at Stop & Shop. (Source: Stop & Shop Pea Pod 9/24)
WEGMANS AND TARGET: Here’s a look at what’s inside the Whipped Toppings store brands for Wegmans and Target. (Sources: Wegmans and Target Web sites 9/24) They both contain ingredients Not In Kitchen when making homemade Whipped Cream.
DANONE’S SO DELICIOUS COCONUT WHIPPED TOPPING IS DAIRY FREE. Regular CocoWhip from Danone contains Water, Emulsifying Agents, Gums, Flavors and added Pea Protein. (Source: Danone So Delicious Web site 9/24)
PEAK FOODS TRUWHIP: Below is a closer look at what’s in Original truwhip whipped topping. The frozen product contains multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen when making homemade Whipped Cream including Water, Maltodextrin, Soy Lecithin, Sodium Caseinate, Gums, Flavors and Added Color. (Source: Peak Foods truwhip Web site 9/24)
This is where I usually note which products are Closest To Homemade® but there aren't any in this category.
CHEAPER AND SUPERIOR REAL WHIPPED CREAM: A more delicious, cost-efficient and better-for-you option to these products is to whip real Cream + Confectioner’s Sugar together. YUM!! Make sure the Cream is as cold as possible, ideally whipping it in a bowl nestled inside a larger bowl of ice. If you use a blender, freeze the blender first and make the Cream as cold as possible without freezing.
Fresh homemade Whipped Cream only takes a couple of minutes and it will thrill your taste buds!
And we leave you with a look at some old print ads for whipped toppings:
Discover food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.
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