Course:FNH200/Assignments/2025/Kraft Miracle Whip - Original vs Calorie-wise

Introduction

For this comparison, we have selected Miracle Whip Original and its alternative, Calorie-Wise Miracle Whip, both commonly available in Canadian grocery stores. Miracle Whip Original is a salad dressing and sandwich spread known for its creamy texture and tangy flavour. It has a distinct taste that sets it apart from traditional mayonnaise, and it’s a staple in many households. Calorie-Wise Miracle Whip is marketed as a lower-fat, lower-calorie alternative to the original version. It offers a similar flavour profile and texture but with reduced fat content, making it an option for consumers seeking lighter choices without entirely sacrificing taste.

Front of bottle of Original and Calorie-wise Miracle Whip

Ingredients List of Original and Calorie-wise Miracle Whip

Ingredient lists (4 points)

Ingredient List

Original Miracle Whip	Calorie-wise Miracle Whip
Water Vegetable oil Sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose) Vinegar Modified cornstarch Liquid yolk (egg) Salt Mustard Spices Potassium sorbate Calcium disodium EDTA Dried garlic Contains: Egg, Mustard	Water Vegetable oil Sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose) Vinegar Modified cornstarch Liquid yolk (egg) Salt Mustard Spices Potassium sorbate Calcium disodium EDTA Dried garlic Liquid whole egg Microcrystalline cellulose Xanthan gum Cellulose gum Paprika oleoresin Turmeric oleoresin Contains: Egg, Mustard

Identify fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used

	Original Miracle Whip	Calorie-wise Miracle Whip
Fat Substitutes	None	Microcrystalline cellulose
Sugar Substitutes	None	None
Additives	Modified cornstarch Calcium disodium EDTA Potassium sorbate	Modified cornstarch Calcium disodium EDTA Potassium sorbate Xanthan gum Cellulose gum Paprika oleoresin Turmeric oleoresin

Roles of fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and additives

Fat Substitutes

• Microcrystalline Cellulose (Fat Replacer, Texturizer, Stabilizer)
  • This refined plant fiber is used in reduced-fat products to add bulk and texture in place of fat, contributing a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. It also acts as a stabilizer, helping maintain the product's consistency and appearance.

Sugar Substitutes

• None used. Both Original and Calorie-wise Miracle Whip contain sugar, glucose-fructose

Additives:

• Modified Cornstarch (Thickener, Stabilizer, Emulsifier)
  • This altered cornstarch increases the viscosity of the product, providing body and texture. It also helps stabilize the mixture of water and oil, preventing separation, and contributes to a smoother mouthfeel.
• Calcium Disodium EDTA (Preservative, Chelating Agent)
  • This additive binds with and neutralizes pro-oxidant metals (such as iron and copper) in the product. This action prevents spoilage and discoloration via oxidation, preserving the product's color, overall flavor, and extending shelf life.
• Potassium Sorbate (Preservative)
  • An effective inhibitor of mold and bacterial growth, this additive is widely used in processed foods to extend shelf life. It has a neutral flavor, ensuring it doesn't impact the taste of the product.
• Xanthan Gum (Stabilizer, Thickener, Emulsifier)
  • Made via the fermentation of sugars, this additive forms a gel when mixed with water, which thickens liquid, improves texture, and prevents separation of ingredients. It also stabilizes the product across temperature fluctuations.
• Cellulose Gum (Carboxymethylcellulose - CMC) (Thickener, Stabilizer, Bodying Agent)
  • This water-soluble derivative of cellulose increases product viscosity and helps maintain emulsion stability. It contributes to body and mouthfeel, particularly in reduced-fat formulations where it helps mimic the texture provided by fat.
• Paprika Oleoresin (Colourant)
  • A natural extract from paprika, it is used to impart a red-orange color to the product, enhancing its visual appeal and ensuring color consistency.
• Turmeric Oleoresin (Colourant)
  • A natural extract from turmeric, it provides a yellow color to the product, contributing to its visual presentation and maintaining color uniformity.

Compare and contrast the lists of the two products and explain differences

The calorie-wise miracle whip contains less vegetable oil than sugar in contrast to the original miracle whip, which has more vegetable oil than sugars. This reduces the fat content of the calorie-wise miracle whip.

The fat is supplemented with microcrystalline cellulose in the calorie-wise mayo to keep the texture of the mayonnaises similar, while keeping the calories lower on the calorie-wise mayo, since the absorption is lower on the microcrystalline cellulose.

The calorie-wise miracle whip uses whole eggs (liquid egg white + liquid egg yolk) in comparison to the regular, which uses the egg yolk solely. This is due to the calorie content of egg yolks (322 cal/100g) which is higher than a blend of white and yolk (143 cal/100g).

Interestingly, the calorie-wise version of the Miracle Whip actually contains more sugar and sodium than the regular version despite having fewer calories and less fat. When fat content is reduced, food manufacturers often need to adjust other ingredients to compensate for the changes in taste and texture that fat provides. Therefore, extra sugar and sodium is added to make up for the lack of fat.

Labels (1 points)

Provide detailed description of the information found on the labels

• The ingredients on both the Original and Calorie-Wise labels are listed in descending order by weight. According to the ingredient lists, both products list water and vegetable oil as the first ingredients, indicating that they are the main ingredients by volume.
• The common name “Miracle Whip” makes it easily identifiable.
• The ingredient lists are accompanied by a Nutrition Facts label, which shows identical serving sizes (per 1 tbsp/15ml). With the original Miracle Whip carrying 40 calories and the Calorie-Wise version carrying 30, the latter provides 25% less calories per tablespoon. Additional information found on the Nutrition Facts labels includes the amount of Fats, Carbohydrates, Protein, Cholesterol, Sodium, and micronutrients.
• Both product labels declare that they are free from artificial flavouring or colours.
• The suggested serving size is shown on the labels, with a total volume (650ml) written in the corner.
• There is a best-before date of October 13, 2025, with storage instructions to refrigerate after opening.
• The labels indicate that both are products of the U.S.A. and imported to the Kraft Canada location in Toronto, Ontario.
• All information is found in both English and French.

Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04.

Requirement	Meets	Why
Bilingual labelling	Yes	Both English and French present
Common name	Yes	Labelled as ‘dressing’ as classified by Health Canada
Country of Origin	Yes	Lists USA as country of origin
Data marking and storage instructions	Yes	Includes best before date and storage instructions
Identity and principle of business	Yes	Lists Kraft Canada website and Canadian headquarters address
Irradiated foods	N/A	Not an irradiated product; does not apply
Legibility and location	Yes	Clear placement and legible
List of ingredients	Yes	Lists ingredients in descending order according to weight
Nutrition facts	Yes	Nutrition facts table is present
Net quantity	Yes	“890 ml” printed on front of jar
Sweeteners	N/A
Other mandatory information	N/A

Personal Choice (5 points)

Please submit your individual component of this assignment on Canvas to protect your privacy and your personal opinion

References

This Food Science resource was created by Course:FNH200.