Trader Joe's New Gummy Worms May Have An Unexpected Effect

Let’s cast our minds back to 2014. Now, aside from the general sense of ennui that’s evoked by doing that, thanks to the memory of a world that wasn’t quite as doom-inducing as it is today, you might also have a faint memory of a candy that caused much hilarity on the internet. I’m talking about Haribo’s sugarless gummy bears, which were swiftly pulled from online retailers after dozens of customers reported an unwanted result from eating them: Having to run to the bathroom, very suddenly, after a laxative effect hit.

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You’d think that, given the high-profile nature of this story, food producers would kinda do anything they could to ensure that wouldn’t happen again – but recently, Trader Joe’s is dealing with the fallout of pretty much the same thing, thanks to its new Sweet & Sour Gummy Worms Candies. In short, they’re getting things moving.

Well, That’s One Way To Get Your Daily Fiber…

Discussion around the effects of Trader Joe’s new candies started in the last few weeks, but it took a little time to bubble up beyond the Reddit boards and into the mainstream. Last Wednesday, though, USA Today reported on what customers have been, er, experiencing after eating them. Multiple people have reported that the Sweet & Sour Gummy Worms Candies act as an inadvertent laxative, due to the high levels of fiber in the snack. When we say high, we mean high: Each eight-piece serving has 14 grams of fiber, 50% of the recommended daily allowance.

Some customers have also questioned why Trader Joe’s hasn’t made the fiber levels in the candy more prominent. “To me it seems a bit irresponsible to not label these as high fiber or something if the label is correct,” said one person on Reddit. “There’s over 2 days worth of fiber in the whole bag and it’s such a small bag that it would be super easy to just eat the whole thing in one sitting.” Honestly? They have a point. Excessive fiber intake, whether it’s soluble or insoluble, can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating, and gas, as well as an increased frequency of bowel movements. The fiber is on the label in the nutritional information, but it’s not displayed on the front.

A Sweet Treat(?)

Some customers have also pointed out that these gummy candies contain ingredients like allulose and erythritol, sweeteners that may also contribute to gastrointestinal discomfort in some individuals. For its part, Trader Joe’s still has the product listed on its website, although it’s been reported that some cashiers are alerting customers to the candy’s high-fiber nature.

Hey, if you’re looking to get more fiber in your diet, this is one way to do it, we guess. You just might want to be near the restroom for a little while afterward.