The Truth About Walmart's Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream sandwiches are one of those few things in this world that many of us cannot get enough of. And if you think about it, they're incredibly hard to say no to. A delectable mix of yummy ice cream and crispy wafers. Heavenly, right? There are lots of options available for those looking for their dessert fix, thankfully. 

For example, the ice cream sandwiches from America's retail giant, Walmart, are rather famous. Particularly for one reason: they don't seem to melt on account of certain ingredients they contain. Well, here's a pertinent question that must be asked: how bad are these ice cream sandwiches for you? According to Bansari Acharya, RDN, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at FoodLove.com, these sweet treats can cause more harm than good. 

In an interview with Mashed, Acharya provided a much-needed reminder that ice cream sandwiches are highly processed: "Processed foods are one of the unhealthiest foods you can eat as they contain large amounts of fat, sugar, salt, or all three. Many of the additives and preservatives used in these foods have health risks associated with them." When it comes to Walmart's ice cream sandwiches, in particular, there are a few troubling ingredients that you need to watch out for. Read on for all the details. 

Acharya explained that the ice cream sandwich doesn't have just the usual suspects on its ingredients' list such as milk, sugar, and cream but also has corn syrup which is a serious offender when it comes to your health and "is known to lead to visceral fat intake and fatty liver."  Plus, the reason the ice cream doesn't melt and retains its creaminess is because of ingredients like carrageenan, carob bean gum, and cellulose, which serve as stabilizers. According to Acharya, carrageenan has been associated with bloating, inflammation, and other digestive issues in some people.

Also, coming down to the basics, the nutritional profile of these ice cream sandwiches is just bad. One sandwich has six grams of fat, 105 milligrams of sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. "All of the sugars contained in the ice cream sandwich are simple sugars from corn syrup and added sugar with no added fiber so they can lead to a spike in blood sugars leading to a sugar high," Acharya explained, adding that "half of the fat in the ice cream sandwich is saturated fat, which is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease." Seems like it's time to swap these sandwiches for healthier treats, huh?