amber
Ammonia Caramel
Contains 4-methylimidazole, an IARC Group 2B carcinogen formed during ammonia processing.
Low Tox Gear · Scanner
Tim Tam
Is Arnott’s Tim Tam low tox? Our scanner flagged 4 ingredients (4 in the caution tier) on its published label, screened against our 237 source-cited chemical rules.
4 caution
4 ingredients flagged
What we flagged
amber
Cochineal
Insect-derived red colour. Documented IgE allergen with anaphylaxis case reports.
DiCello et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1999 (carmine anaphylaxis)
amber
E476
Castor-oil-derived emulsifier ubiquitous in compound chocolate. Same gut-barrier concerns as the other Chassaing-class emulsifiers.
amber
E223
Documented MCAS, asthma and migraine trigger in sensitive individuals.
Full ingredients (from label)
SugarFortified Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folic Acid)Palm Oil (Contains Soy)Whole Milk PowderCocoa ButterCocoa MassPartially Inverted Refiners SyrupColours (Ammonia Caramel, Beetroot Red, Cochineal)Vegetable Fats (Shea and/or Sal)Starch (Wheat)Milk FatRaising Agents (Ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate)Cocoa Powder (0.3%)Emulsifiers (Soy Lecithins, E476)SaltFlavouringFlour Treatment Agent (E223 (Sulphites)).
How this analysis is generated
Each ingredient on this product's published label is matched against our 237 source-cited chemical rules, each documenting a concern from peer-reviewed research and regulatory sources. Severity tiers:
- Avoid (red) — banned or restricted in the EU, UK or Canada but still legal in the US, IARC-listed, or strong contact-allergen evidence.
- Caution (amber) — regulatory caution, contamination risk, or condition-specific irritant.
- Mild (green) — low concern but commonly avoided in low-tox formulations.
Each flag links to its primary chemical-level source, and each condition pill links to a PubMed-indexed paper that discusses the chemical class in the context of that condition. Every citation is a real peer-reviewed paper — we don't link to Wikipedia or PubMed search pages. Some pairs use a topically-broad paper (e.g. a fragrance-allergen patch-test review) rather than a single-pair study where the literature is thin. The full evidence chain (chemical → mechanism → condition → paper) is one click away.
This is automated analysis of a published label, not medical advice — always verify the label yourself before changing products. Methodology and source list at scan.lowtoxgear.com.