WHICH TOASTER PASTRIES ARE CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE?
TOASTER PASTRIES
Information updated July 2023
Introduced in 1964, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts took a while to make their way into the daily American breakfast experience. In 2023, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts is the #1 branded Toaster Pastry in the U.S. (Source: Statista 2023)
HOMEMADE TOASTER PASTRIES: This is an unusual category for Closest To Homemade because Toaster Pastries aren’t typically made at home. We probably wouldn’t make something designed to fit in the toaster. We would be more likely to make a baked strudel or fruit pastry. It might look something like this in terms of ingredients:
So, just in concept, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts are Far From Homemade™ in that they sit on a shelf for up to twelve months and go into the toaster to be heated.
Originally, Kellogg's Pop-Tarts were made with Smucker’s Pure Preserves. (Source: Historical print ad) They were positioned as, "A wonderful breakfast treat - grand for lunch and snacks, too."
By 1971, there was no longer any association with Smucker’s. (Source: 1971 Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts package) You can see the ingredients below from an old package.
The items circled in red below are designated as Not In Kitchen™; if we were to make this item at home from scratch, these are the ingredients that would not be in our kitchens.
Although we might have things like vitamins and minerals in our kitchens, we don't use them in recipes.
Let’s take a look at what Kellogg’s Blueberry Pop-Tarts contained in 1971 — below left — and what they contain in July 2023 — below right: (Sources: Historical Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Package 1971; Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Web site 7/23)
THERE ARE DRIED GRAPES AND DRIED APPLES IN THE FRUIT FILLING OF KELLOGG’S BLUEBERRY POP-TARTS: Ingredients are always listed in descending order of amount >> there is the most amount of the first ingredient and the least amount of the last ingredient. In 1971, the second ingredient was 'Blueberry Preserves'. In 2023, the fruit component is dried blueberries, dried grapes and dried apples, and the trio are ingredients #12-14.
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP HAS BEEN ADDED AS A SWEETENER: The 1971 version did not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 2023, 92% of U.S. corn is genetically modified to tolerate glyphosate which is a chemical that has been shown to be extremely harmful to humans and the environment. (Source for Glyphosate information: Dr. Stephanie Seneff at MIT)
KELLOGG'S BLUEBERRY POP-TARTS CONTAIN SOYBEAN OIL: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 2023, 94% of U.S. soybeans are genetically modified.
KELLOGG'S BLUEBERRY POP-TARTS CONTAIN PALM OIL: There are numerous environmental and animal activists whom are very concerned about palm oil harvesting. An alliance has formed for safe palm oil harvesting >> RSPO which stands for Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Manufacturers can be certified by this organization to recognize they are using sustainable practices for palm oil production. Kellogg does not appear to be using RSPO palm oil at this time in Kellogg's Blueberry Pop-Tarts.
TBHQ HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE SOYBEAN AND PALM OILS: TBHQ is a consumer-friendly acronym for a complicated man-made ingredient: tertiary or tert-Butylhydroquinone >> it is a preservative which extends shelf life. It is added to the Soybean and Palm Oils to keep them from becoming rancid quickly. TBHQ is banned at Whole Foods Market. (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 7/23)
KELLOGG’S BLUEBERRY POP-TARTS CONTAIN ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS AND THREE ARTIFICIAL COLORS: Red #40, Blue #1 and Blue #2. In the European Union, products which contain artificial colors require the warning on the package: "Warning: May have adverse effect on activity and attention in children."
Eight of the ingredients in Kellogg’s Blueberry Pop-Tarts are banned at Whole Foods Market. (Source for banned ingredients: Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market 7/23)
KELLOGG'S FROSTED POP-TARTS GENERALLY HAVE MORE INGREDIENTS NOT IN KITCHEN™ THAN UNFROSTED POP-TARTS.
Based on quantitative research data, the majority of Kellogg's Pop-Tarts are consumed two at a time because they are generally packaged in pairs.
So, let's take a look at the sugar content for one serving (2 pastries) of Kellogg's Pop-Tarts in three different flavors >> Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae, Frosted S’mores and Frosted Chocolate Chip.
These three Kellogg's Pop-Tarts items contain 30-33 grams of added sugar in two pastries. Added sugar is sugar which does not occur naturally as in, for example, fruit.
According to the American Heart Association, "Children should not consume more than 25 grams of added sugar daily."
STORE BRAND TOASTER PASTRIES: Following is a snapshot of ingredients Not In Kitchen in three retail brand Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries from Kroger, Walmart Great Value and Publix. (Sources: Retail Web sites 7/23)
Shown below, GENERAL MILLS OWNS ANNIE’S AND MAKES USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC TOASTER PASTRIES UNDER THE ANNIE’S BRAND. (Source for ingredients: General Mills Annie’s package on Walmart Web site 7/23) Annie’s Strawberry Frosted Toaster Pastries contain numerous ingredients Not In Kitchen including commercial Organic Invert Sugar (a commercial-grade sugar which has been modified to help the product retain a soft texture as it sits on the shelf for months), Organic Palm Oil, added flavoring, added coloring, thickening agents, plus an added stabilizer and preservatives.
All Toaster Pastries are extremely high in Added Sugar. Please think of them as an indulgent dessert.
TOASTER PASTRY COMPARISON: NATURE’S PATH ORGANIC vs. KELLOGG’S POP-TARTS. (Sources for ingredients: Brand Web sites 7/23)
Q: Which toaster pastry below is more appealing to you?
In the world of Toaster Pastries:
AVOID: TBHQ, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, modified food starch, modified wheat starch, DATEM, disodium phosphate, carrageenan, added minerals + vitamins, soybeans, added artificial flavors and colors, gums, fortification, bleached flour, fructose, polydextrose, sodium stearoyl lactylate.
SEEK: Organic flour, organic oils (ideally not soybean, cottonseed, corn or canola), organic fruit, organic sweeteners, Himalayan salt, organic extracts, if there is palm oil >> RSPO palm oil.
Here are some oldies from Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts:
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