Is layered fruit bar Raspberry Lemonade Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I always start by looking at the source material. For this layered fruit bar Raspberry Lemonade, the base is built entirely from fruit concentrates. The primary ingredient is apple puree concentrate and apple juice concentrate. These act as the structural foundation and primary sweetener. Apples are naturally gluten-free, and in their concentrated form, they provide a chewy texture similar to a fruit leather without the need for grain-based flours.

The tartness comes from lemon juice concentrate and raspberry juice concentrate. These are pure fruit extracts. The binding agent is citrus pectin, which is a plant-based starch derived from citrus fruits. It is a common gluten-free thickener used to give these bars their gummy, cohesive texture. Finally, the color comes from vegetable and fruit juices like carrot and blueberry, along with natural flavors. None of these ingredients pose a gluten risk.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this fruit bar is essentially a concentrated source of carbohydrates, specifically natural sugars. Because the ingredients are fruit concentrates, the sugar content is relatively high, though these are naturally occurring sugars rather than added refined sugars. It is also low in fat and protein, which is typical for fruit-based snacks. If you are following a low-carb or low-sugar diet like Keto, this bar might not fit your specific limits. However, for a general healthy diet, it serves as a much better alternative to candy or processed pastries, providing a boost of energy and a small amount of dietary fiber from the fruit pectin.