Trader Joe’s has dropped a lot of viral snacks this year, but none quite like this. The new $3.99 Sweet & Sour Gummy Worms have zero grams of sugar, which sounds great on paper — until shoppers noticed the *other* number on the nutrition label. We’re talking 14 grams of fiber per serving, and the internet cannot stop talking about what that means for your next trip to the bathroom.
Zero Sugar, But Wait Until You See the Fiber Count
These “fruity flavored” worms skip refined sugar entirely, relying on a blend of allulose (a naturally occurring fruit sugar), organic erythritol, and monk fruit extract for sweetness, plus a hit of citric acid for that classic sour “zing.” Trader Joe’s also swapped out gelatin for pectin, so the worms are technically vegetarian-friendly — though the bag does note possible egg cross-contamination, because nothing can ever be simple.
The flavor and color come from real strawberry juice concentrate and fruit and veggie juices, so it’s not just a chemistry set in a bag. But let’s be honest, nobody’s talking about the flavor right now.
14 Grams of Fiber… in Candy?
Here’s the number that broke Threads: eight gummy worms (one serving) pack 14 grams of fiber for just 35 calories. That’s about half your daily recommended fiber intake, from candy. For comparison, Metamucil gummies deliver 5 grams of fiber per 3-gummy serving, and MiraFiber gummies clock in around 8 grams for 4. One shopper put it best: “8 gummies for 35 calories and 14g fiber is impressive!”
“Between the dextrin and the erythritol, these will clean you out better than a colonoscopy prep.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, sugar alcohols like erythritol can have a laxative effect because your body can’t fully absorb them, so they linger and ferment in your intestines. Add in the fiber from ingredients like dextrin, and you’ve got a candy that moves way more than units off the shelf.
Should You Actually Stock Up for the Fiber?
Reviews on the actual taste are mixed — some shoppers call them “terrible tasting sour gummy tapeworms” (their words, not ours), while others are here purely for the digestive benefits. If you’re fiber-curious, our advice is simple: start with two or three worms, not the whole bag, and see how your stomach feels before you commit. Your gut (and your evening plans) will thank you.
This isn’t the first time Trader Joe’s has sent shoppers into a frenzy over a snack you wouldn’t expect to go viral. The new $3.49 Buffalo Sauce had a similar moment for skipping butter entirely, and the Mandu Korean Kimchi Potstickers sold out for a completely different reason: they’re just really, really good.
Where to Find Them (and What Else to Grab)
The Sweet & Sour Gummy Worms are $3.99 for a 5-ounce bag and should be sitting near the rest of the candy aisle at your local Trader Joe’s, assuming they haven’t sold out already — this one’s moving fast for reasons we’ve already covered in detail. While you’re there, swing by the freezer section for the viral $4.99 Potato Cheese Sticks, because you deserve a snack that doesn’t come with a warning.
Bottom line: for $3.99, this might be the most entertaining candy purchase you make all year, whether you’re in it for the sour “zing” or the surprise fiber boost. Just maybe don’t eat the whole bag before a long car ride.
Have you tried Trader Joe’s new gummy worms? Tell us how it went (or didn’t) in the comments below — and check back with Grocery Goodies for the next viral grocery find before it sells out.
Photo credits: Image 1 — Trader Joe’s. Image 2 — Christopher Stites/Unsplash.
