Nothing beats a cold scoop of ice cream on a hot day, but not all frozen treats are created equal. Many popular brands pack their products with artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and mysterious chemicals that make you wonder what you’re actually eating. Understanding which brands cut corners with cheap ingredients can help you make better choices for your family and find truly delicious alternatives.
1. Breyers
Once known for premium quality, Breyers has dramatically changed its recipe over the years. Many of their products now contain so many artificial ingredients that they legally can’t even be called “ice cream” anymore – they’re labeled as “frozen dairy dessert” instead.
The ingredient list reads like a chemistry experiment, featuring corn syrup, artificial flavors, and various gums and stabilizers. Real vanilla has been replaced with vanillin, a synthetic substitute that lacks the complex flavor of actual vanilla beans.
Your taste buds will notice the difference immediately when comparing Breyers to brands that still use traditional ingredients.
2. Blue Bunny
Blue Bunny might seem like a wholesome choice with its cute mascot, but their ingredient panels tell a different story. High fructose corn syrup appears prominently in most flavors, replacing natural sugar and creating an overly sweet, artificial taste.
The brand relies heavily on artificial colors to achieve vibrant flavors like their rainbow sherbet. These synthetic dyes have been linked to hyperactivity in children and offer no nutritional value whatsoever.
Additionally, Blue Bunny uses multiple types of gums and emulsifiers to create texture, rather than using quality cream and proper churning techniques that premium brands employ.
3. Great Value (Walmart)
Walmart’s store brand ice cream lives up to its budget reputation by using the cheapest possible ingredients. The base contains more air than actual dairy, creating a light, fluffy texture that melts into sugary water almost immediately.
Artificial vanilla flavoring dominates most varieties, while chocolate flavors rely on cocoa powder rather than real chocolate. The strawberry contains artificial strawberry flavoring instead of actual fruit pieces or natural strawberry extract.
Most concerning is the long list of unpronounceable stabilizers and preservatives that help extend shelf life but do nothing for taste or nutrition.
4. Friendly’s
Despite its restaurant origins, Friendly’s grocery store ice cream has taken significant shortcuts with ingredient quality. Their signature flavors contain artificial cake pieces made from corn syrup and food coloring rather than real cake ingredients.
The ice cream base itself relies on corn syrup as a primary sweetener, creating a cloying sweetness that masks the lack of real flavor. Artificial vanilla and chocolate flavoring replace more expensive natural alternatives.
Even their mix-ins like cookie dough contain artificial butter flavoring and preservatives that extend shelf life but compromise taste. The result is ice cream that tastes more like sweetened chemicals than a genuine frozen dessert.
5. Turkey Hill
Turkey Hill markets itself as a premium brand but cuts corners where it counts most. Their ingredient lists reveal extensive use of corn syrup and artificial flavoring throughout their product line, particularly in popular flavors like cookies and cream.
The brand uses artificial vanilla extract instead of real vanilla, which creates a harsh, one-dimensional flavor profile. Their chocolate varieties rely on processed cocoa powder rather than quality chocolate, resulting in a flat, artificial chocolate taste.
Most flavors contain multiple stabilizers and emulsifiers that create an unnatural mouthfeel compared to ice creams made with traditional churning methods and quality ingredients.
6. Kemps
Regional brand Kemps disappoints with its heavy reliance on artificial ingredients despite being a dairy company. Their ice cream contains high fructose corn syrup as a primary ingredient, creating an artificially sweet taste that overwhelms natural flavors.
The vanilla varieties use vanillin instead of real vanilla extract, while fruit flavors depend on artificial fruit flavoring rather than actual fruit purees or extracts. This creates flavors that taste like candy rather than genuine ice cream.
Kemps also uses excessive amounts of stabilizers and gums to create texture artificially, rather than using traditional ice cream making techniques that rely on quality cream and proper temperature control.
7. Store Brand Neapolitan
Generic store brand Neapolitan ice cream represents the bottom tier of frozen dessert quality across multiple grocery chains. These products maximize profits by using the cheapest possible ingredients, starting with corn syrup as the primary sweetener.
The three flavors rely entirely on artificial coloring and flavoring – fake vanilla, artificial strawberry, and processed cocoa powder. Real fruit, vanilla beans, and quality chocolate are nowhere to be found in the ingredient list.
The texture feels artificial due to excessive stabilizers and emulsifiers, while the lack of real dairy fat creates a product that melts into sugary liquid rather than creamy ice cream.
8. Dreyer’s/Edy’s Budget Lines
While Dreyer’s premium flavors maintain decent quality, their budget-friendly options take significant shortcuts with ingredients. These value lines contain high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavoring throughout most varieties.
The chocolate flavors use artificial chocolate flavoring instead of real cocoa or chocolate, creating a flat, chemical taste. Vanilla varieties rely on vanillin rather than natural vanilla extract, missing the complex flavor notes that make quality ice cream special.
These budget options also contain numerous stabilizers and preservatives that extend shelf life but create an unnatural texture and aftertaste that lingers unpleasantly compared to their premium counterparts.
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