The Short Answer
Outshine Fruit Bars get a caution verdict because they rely on excessive added sugar, natural flavors, and texturizing gums. While they are a step up from traditional popsicles made with high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes, a single standard fruit bar still packs up to 14 grams of added cane sugar.
The "No Sugar Added" line is even worse. It replaces cane sugar with a harsh cocktail of sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and sugar alcohols that can wreck your gut. If you want a truly clean fruit pop, look for brands like Chloe's or GoodPop that use 100% real fruit and zero artificial sweeteners. Healthiest Frozen Treats
Why This Matters
Popsicles have a massive health halo, especially when the box boasts "made with real fruit" and highlights vitamin C. But fruit juice concentrates and purees often strip away the beneficial fiber, leaving behind a concentrated sugar rush. You aren't eating whole fruit; you're eating a sugary dessert. Are Popsicles Healthy
The texture of a commercial fruit bar is entirely engineered. To keep fruit bars from turning into solid blocks of ice, brands pump them full of gums and stabilizers. While some are harmless, others can trigger digestive distress and bloating in sensitive stomachs. Thickeners In Ice Cream
Sugar-free alternatives often create more problems than they solve. Artificial sweeteners like sucralose alter your gut microbiome and can cause severe laxative effects. You should never have to sacrifice your digestion just to save 30 calories. Is Halo Top Healthy
What's Actually In Outshine Fruit Bars
- Cane Sugar — A single Mango bar has 14g of added sugar. That is more than half the recommended daily limit for a child in one small snack.
- Guar Gum & Carob Bean Gum — Thickeners used to create a creamy, biteable texture. While generally recognized as safe, they can cause gas and bloating if consumed in large amounts. Thickeners In Ice Cream
- Natural Flavors — A proprietary umbrella term that can hide up to 100 different chemical compounds. We always prefer to see flavors coming strictly from the fruit itself.
- Sucralose & Acesulfame Potassium — Found exclusively in the "No Sugar Added" line. These artificial sweeteners are linked to gut microbiome disruption and metabolic confusion.
- Carrageenan — Found in the Creamy Coconut flavor. This highly inflammatory thickener is linked to gastrointestinal distress and should be strictly avoided. Is Carrageenan In Ice Cream Safe
What to Look For
Green Flags:
- Whole fruit base — Look for organic fruit purees or whole fruit as the very first ingredient.
- Zero added refined sugar — The cleanest pops use organic fruit juice to sweeten instead of dumping in refined cane sugar.
Red Flags:
- Artificial sweeteners — Sucralose, Ace-K, and aspartame are absolute dealbreakers that destroy gut health.
- Inflammatory gums — Skip anything containing carrageenan, which is notorious for triggering digestive inflammation.
The Best Options
If you want a refreshing frozen treat without the chemical baggage, you have better options than Outshine. Here is how the top brands stack up:
| Brand | Product | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloe's | Fruit Pops | ✅ | Just three ingredients: fruit puree, water, and cane sugar with zero gums. |
| GoodPop | No Added Sugar Pops | ✅ | Sweetened only with organic fruit juices and made without artificial sweeteners. |
| JonnyPops | Organic Fruit Stacks | ✅ | Uses organic fruit juices and natural colors with a simple ingredient profile. |
| Outshine | Standard Fruit Bars | ⚠️ | Better than conventional popsicles, but high in added sugar and gums. |
| Outshine | No Sugar Added Bars | 🚫 | Loaded with artificial sweeteners and gut-disrupting sugar alcohols. |
| Outshine | Creamy Coconut | 🚫 | Contains carrageenan, an inflammatory additive you should always skip. |
The Bottom Line
1. Skip the No Sugar Added line. The artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols simply aren't worth the calorie savings.
2. Read the gum list. Avoid the Creamy Coconut flavor entirely due to its use of inflammatory carrageenan.
3. Switch to simpler brands. Chloe's and GoodPop offer the same refreshing fruit taste with half the ingredients and zero artificial chemicals.
FAQ
Are Outshine bars actually healthy?
It depends on the flavor and your definition of healthy. While they contain real fruit and avoid high-fructose corn syrup, most standard flavors are packed with up to 14 grams of added cane sugar and texturizing gums. Are Popsicles Healthy
Do Outshine fruit bars have artificial sweeteners?
The "No Sugar Added" line uses multiple artificial sweeteners. They contain a mix of sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and sorbitol, which can easily cause digestive issues. The standard fruit bars use regular cane sugar instead.
Are Outshine bars a good way to get fruit?
No, they should be treated as a dessert, not a serving of fruit. Because the fruit is heavily processed into juice and puree, almost all the natural fiber is removed, leaving you with a fast-digesting sugar spike. Is Frozen Fruit Healthy