American Garden Pancake Syrup
Published
American Garden Pancake Syrup is a table syrup for pancakes and waffles, made mostly from corn syrups and water with a little maple. It scores ED3: very low on nutrition because it is almost all sugar, lower on ingredients for the additives and flavouring, and moderate on risk because of the sugar load. Best kept as an occasional drizzle, in a small pour.
Ingredients, decoded
11 listed- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Corn Syrup
- Water
- Maple Syrup(2%)
- Salt
- Thickener: Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (INS 466)
- Color: Caramel (INS 150d)
- Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate (INS 202)
- Sodium Benzoate (INS 211)
- Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid (INS 330)
- Artificial Flavor: Vanillin
5 teaspoons of sugar in every 100 g · 25 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 100 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26 g |
| Total sugars | 25 g |
| Added sugars | 24 g |
| Dietary fibre | 0 g |
| Total fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 50 mg |
| Iron | 0 mg |
| Calcium | 0 mg |
| Potassium | 0 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about American Garden Pancake Syrup
Mostly corn syrup, with 2% maple
American Garden Pancake Syrup is a 710 ml bottle of breakfast topping built on high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and water. Maple syrup is declared at 2%, and the rest of the list is salt, a thickener, caramel colour, two preservatives, citric acid and artificial vanilla flavour. It is bought as an easy, pourable syrup for pancakes, waffles and French toast.
A 30 ml serve (2 tablespoons) gives 100 kcal, 24 g added sugar and 50 mg sodium. Protein, fibre, fat and trans fat are all 0 g, and no vitamins or minerals are declared. The energy is sugar and nothing else.
The name says pancake syrup, not maple syrup, and that is accurate: maple is a small part of the list, listed fourth. The front panel states the 2% openly. CleanPlate scores it ED3.
Why American Garden Pancake Syrup scores ED3
Nutrition is an E because the syrup is sugar with no protein, fibre or minerals. Ingredients are a D for caramel colour, a thickener and flavouring, and risk is a 3 on 24 g added sugar per 30 ml serve.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
- Vitamins and minerals
- 4 declared
- Energy
- 100 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why E
A 30 ml serve has 100 kcal, 26 g carbohydrate and 24 g added sugar, with 0 g protein and 0 g fibre. With no protein source and no fibre, nothing earns credit.
No iron, calcium, potassium or vitamin D is declared, so there is no micronutrient lift either. The grade sits at the bottom.
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Heavily processed or flagged substances
- Base
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Sweeteners
- 3 types
- Additives
- 5
- Flagged
- 3 ingredients
- Artificial flavour or colour
- Yes
02 Ingredient integrity: why D
High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and water lead the list, so the base is refined sweetener. Maple syrup is named but declared at only 2%, and no other percentages are given.
Caramel colour (INS 150d, sulphite ammonia caramel), the thickener sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (INS 466) and artificial vanillin flavour cost ingredient points. The preservatives potassium sorbate (202) and sodium benzoate (211) and citric acid (330) are listed but cost no points. No label promise is hollow, so there is no [L].
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Moderate risk
- Added sugar
- 24 g
- Sodium
- 50 mg
- Saturated fat
- 0 g
- Trans fat
- 0 g
03 Load risk: why 3
Sugar drives the risk grade: 24 g added sugar in a 30 ml serve. Sodium is low at 50 mg per serve, and saturated fat and trans fat are 0 g.
Energy adds nothing extra beyond the sugar. Risk lands on a 3 because a typical pour is small, but a heavy pour raises the sugar quickly.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
Red flags
- −Red flag: High added sugar (24g per 100g)
- −Red flag: Contains High Fructose Corn Syrup
- −Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)
- −Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate
Green flags
- +Green flag: Low sodium
Does American Garden Pancake Syrup live up to its claims?
The 2% maple claim is true but small, the pancake syrup name is honest, and gluten free holds on the list. Corn syrups, not maple, make up the base.
- On the packPartly true
“2% maple syrup”
Maple syrup is real and declared at 2%, but it is listed fourth, after high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and water.
- Product nameHolds
“Pancake Syrup”
The name does not claim maple syrup. The product is a corn syrup blend with a small amount of maple.
- Retail listingBe careful
“Made from 2% maple”
True as far as it goes, but the wording puts maple first in the story. The base is two corn syrups, with 24 g added sugar per 30 ml serve.
- On the packHolds
“Gluten Free”
No gluten-containing ingredient is listed. It does not change the sugar content.
What's in American Garden Pancake Syrup?
High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and water lead the list, with maple at 2%. Watch the added sugar, the caramel colour and the thickener.
The ingredient list, read for you
High fructose corn syrup and corn syrup come first, then water, so the bottle is mostly liquid sugar. Maple syrup follows at 2%, and salt comes after it.
The rest is function: sodium carboxymethyl cellulose thickens, caramel colour darkens, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate preserve, citric acid adjusts acidity, and vanillin is the artificial flavour.
Ingredients to watch
- Added sugarConcern
24 g in a 30 ml serve, from high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. It is the reason nutrition and risk grades are low.
- Caramel colour (INS 150d)Worth watching
A sulphite ammonia caramel, which costs ingredient points. It only darkens the syrup.
- Thickener (INS 466)Worth watching
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose gives body and costs ingredient points.
- Preservatives (INS 202, 211)Worth watching
Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are both listed. They cost no points in the scorecard but are worth knowing about.
- Fat and sodiumFine
0 g fat, 0 g trans fat and 50 mg sodium per 30 ml serve.
What it doesn’t have
- No protein, fibre, vitamins or minerals are declared.
- Only maple syrup has a percentage; the shares of the corn syrups and water are not stated.
Who should eat American Garden Pancake Syrup?
An occasional topping for most adults, and rarely for children or anyone managing blood sugar, since one 30 ml serve has 24 g added sugar.
- Most adultsOccasionally
24 g added sugar in one 30 ml serve, with nothing else of value.
- ChildrenRarely
High sugar plus a dye, preservatives and artificial flavour.
- Diabetes or prediabetesRarely
24 g added sugar per serve is almost entirely fast sugar.
- Weight managementOccasionally
100 kcal per 30 ml, all from sugar, and easy to over-pour.
American Garden Pancake Syrup: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of American Garden Pancake Syrup?
American Garden Pancake Syrup is a table syrup for pancakes and waffles, made mostly from corn syrups and water with a little maple. It scores ED3: very low on nutrition because it is almost all sugar, lower on ingredients for the additives and flavouring, and moderate on risk because of the sugar load. Best kept as an occasional drizzle, in a small pour. Nutrition E, ingredients D, load risk 3; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in American Garden Pancake Syrup?
Per 100 g, American Garden Pancake Syrup has 100 kcal, 0 g protein, 26 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat and 0 g saturated fat. One serve (30 ml, 2 tablespoons) has 30 kcal and 0 g protein.
What are the ingredients in American Garden Pancake Syrup?
11 ingredients, in label order: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Maple Syrup(2%), Salt, Thickener: Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (INS 466), Color: Caramel (INS 150d), Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate (INS 202), Sodium Benzoate (INS 211), Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid (INS 330), Artificial Flavor: Vanillin. Flagged: High Fructose Corn Syrup (low concern), Caramel Colour (Class IV) (low concern), Sodium Benzoate (low concern).
Does American Garden Pancake Syrup live up to its claims?
4 claims checked: 2 hold, 1 is partly true, 1 needs care. "2% maple syrup" is partly true: Maple syrup is real and declared at 2%, but it is listed fourth, after high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and water. "Made from 2% maple" needs care: True as far as it goes, but the wording puts maple first in the story. The base is two corn syrups, with 24 g added sugar per 30 ml serve.
Who should limit American Garden Pancake Syrup?
Most adults: occasionally. 24 g added sugar in one 30 ml serve, with nothing else of value. Children: rarely. High sugar plus a dye, preservatives and artificial flavour. Diabetes or prediabetes: rarely. 24 g added sugar per serve is almost entirely fast sugar.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does American Garden Pancake Syrup have?
Per 100 g, American Garden Pancake Syrup has 24 g added sugar, 50 mg sodium (about 0.1 g salt) and 0 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 10 g added sugar, 600 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat per 100 g. It is high in sugar.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 29 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2026 | ED3 | v5.0 | First scored |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
