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Wendy’s

Flavor:

Ghost Pepper Ranch Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients:

Spicy Chicken Breast: Chicken Breast Fillets with Rib Meat, Water, Seasoning (Salt, Sodium Phosphates, Modified Potato Starch, Spices [Including Celery Seed and Mustard], Gum Arabic, Spice Extractives, Paprika, Extractives of Paprika, Extractives of Turmeric). Breaded With: Wheat Flour, Water, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Spice, Yellow Corn Flour, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Natural Flavor, Maltodextrin, Extractives of Paprika, Spice Extractives. Breading set in Vegetable Oil. Cooked In Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Canola, Corn and/or Cottonseed, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Dimethylpolysiloxane [To Reduce Foaming]). CONTAINS: WHEAT. COOKED IN THE SAME OIL AS MENU ITEMS THAT CONTAIN WHEAT, MILK, EGG, SOY, SESAME, AND FISH.

Premium Bun: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and/or Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains less than 2% of each of the following: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Calcium Peroxide, Calcium Propionate (Added as a Preservative), Calcium Sulfate, Canola Oil, Citric Acid, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Enzymes, Maltodextrins, Modified Food Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate, Monoglycerides, Salt, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (SSL), Starch, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable Oil, Vegetable Proteins (Pea, Potato, Fava Bean), Wheat Dextrose, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Maltodextrins, Sesame Flour. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SESAME. BUNS ARE TOASTED IN A COMMON TOASTER WITH PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN WHEAT, SOY, MILK, SESAME.

Tomato: Tomato.

Ghost Pepper American Cheese: Milk, Cream, Ghost Peppers, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Culture, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Enzymes, Citric Acid, Soy Lecithin. CONTAINS: MILK, SOY.

Ghost Pepper Crispy Onions: Onions, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Sunflower, Safflower and/or Canola), Seasoning (Salt, Sugar, Chili Pepper, Milk, Maltodextrin, Cultured Nonfat Milk, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Garlic Powder, Dehydrated Parsley, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Autolyzed Yeast, Extractive of Paprika [Color], Natural Flavors, Whey, White Distilled Vinegar Powder, Spices, Enzyme Modified Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Lactic Acid, Citric Acid). CONTAINS: WHEAT, MILK.

Ghost Pepper Ranch Sauce: Soybean Oil, Water, Ranch Herb Dip Seasoning (Irradiated Onion And Irradiated Garlic Powder, Buttermilk, Yeast Extract [Contains Maltodextrin], Salt, Spices, Whey, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid [Contains Modified Corn Starch], Silicon Dioxide [Added to Prevent Caking]), Vinegar, Egg Yolks (Egg Yolks, Salt), Sugar, Spices (Including Habanero Pepper, Calcium Stearate), Xanthan Gum, Modified Gum Acacia, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Red Ghost Chile Peppers, Natural Flavoring. CONTAINS: MILK, EGG.

Lettuce: Lettuce

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the Wendy’s Ghost Pepper Ranch Chicken Sandwich falls at the bottom of the scale for cleaner food options on our website. This product’s evaluation is grounded in a rigorous assessment of its ingredients, prioritizing the health and well-being of consumers seeking better food choices.

The sandwich is not organic and contains genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, factors that immediately impact its score negatively. Added sugars are present in various forms, including sugar, citric acid, and fructose, further diminishing its rating. More concerning is the inclusion of dextrose and high fructose corn syrup, which are considered more harmful types of added sugars.

Examining the additives reveals the use of several potentially harmful substances. The list includes natural flavors, enriched flour, monoglycerides, silicon dioxide, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, and sodium citrate. Among these, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, and maltodextrin stand out as known harmful additives, contributing to the product’s low score.

The oils used in the sandwich, such as canola, soybean, and generic vegetable oils, are also flagged for their potential harm. Notably, the presence of high fructose corn syrup is a significant detractor, given its association with various health concerns.

The Wendy’s Ghost Pepper Ranch Chicken Sandwich, with its multitude of non-preferred ingredients and lack of organic or non-GMO certification, is a product we advise customers to avoid. The 1/5 green leaf rating is a clear indication of the sandwich’s alignment with our mission to highlight cleaner and healthier food options. It is essential for consumers to be informed about the ingredients in their food, and this product contains several that fall short of the standards we promote for a healthier lifestyle.