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Taco Bell

Flavor:

Beefy Melt Burrito

Ingredients:

Flour Tortilla: Bleached Enriched Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Water, Shortening (Interesterified Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil), Contains 2% Or Less Of Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Yeast [yeast, Sorbitan Monostearate, Ascorbic Acid]), Sugar, Dough Conditioners (Mono– And Diglycerides, Fumaric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Enzymes, Wheat Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Cellulose, Corn Starch, Dicalcium Phosphate, With Tocopherols, Ascorbic Acid And Citric Acid [added As Antioxidants]), Calcium Propionate (P), Molasses. Contains: Wheat. [certified Vegan], Seasoned Beef: Beef, Water, Seasoning [cellulose, Chili Pepper, Maltodextrin, Salt, Oats, Soy Lecithin, Spices, Tomato Powder, Sugar, Onion Powder, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors (Including Smoke Flavor), Torula Yeast, Cocoa, Disodium Inosinate & Guanylate, Dextrose, Lactic Acid, Modified Corn Starch], Salt, Sodium Phosphates. Contains: Soy, Seasoned Rice: Enriched Long Grain Rice, Water, Canola Oil, Seasoning (Maltodextrin, Salt, Natural Flavors, Tomato Powder, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Spices, Onion, Tomato, Red And Green Bell Peppers, Citric Acid, Paprika, Onion Powder, Paprika (Vc), Disodium Guanylate And Inosinate, Torula Yeast. [certified Vegan], Three Cheese Blend: Low-moisture Part-skim Mozzarella Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Pasteurized Process Monterey Jack And American Cheese With Peppers (Cultured Milk, Cultured Part-skim Milk, Water, Cream, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Jalapeno Peppers, Sodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid [p], Color Added, Annatto And Paprika Extract Blend [vc], Enzymes), Anticaking Agents (Potato Starch, Cornstarch, Powdered Cellulose). Contains: Milk [certified Vegetarian], Fiesta Tortilla Strips: Corn Masa Flour, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower, Safflower, And/or Canola), Beet Juice, Annatto Extract And Black Carrot Juice (C). [certified Vegan], Nacho Cheese Sauce: Nonfat Milk, Cheese Whey, Water, Vegetable Oil (Canola Oil, Soybean Oil), Modified Food Starch, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Salt, Dipotassium Phosphate, Jalapeno Puree, Vinegar, Lactic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Citric Acid, Annatto And Oleoresin Paprika (Vc). Contains: Milk [certified Vegetarian], Reduced-fat Sour Cream: Milk, Cream, Modified Corn Starch, Lactic Acid, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Cellulose Gel, Potassium Sorbate (P), Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A. Contains: Milk [certified Vegetarian]

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

The Taco Bell Beefy Melt Burrito earns a rating of 1/5 green leaves on our scale, emphasizing the need for cleaner food choices. This rating reflects the product’s use of numerous non-organic, potentially genetically modified ingredients, and a considerable array of additives and sugars that our criteria deem detrimental to a health-conscious diet.

The burrito’s composition includes a flour tortilla, seasoned beef, seasoned rice, a three-cheese blend, fiesta tortilla strips, nacho cheese sauce, and reduced-fat sour cream. It lacks organic certification, contributing to an immediate deduction in its rating. The presence of genetically modified elements further impacts its standing. Added sugars, such as molasses and sugar, alongside citric acid, are present and contribute negatively to the product’s score. Dextrose, identified as a more harmful sugar, exacerbates this issue.

Our assessment highlights the use of various additives that are flagged as potentially harmful, including natural flavors, diglycerides, enriched wheat flour, soy lecithin, potassium sorbate, and sodium citrate. Even more concerning are ingredients such as carrageenan, maltodextrin, and sodium metabisulfite, which are recognized as known harmful additives. The product also contains oils such as canola, soybean, and unspecified vegetable oils, which are considered detrimental within our framework.

The Beefy Melt Burrito’s composition reflects a dense accumulation of ingredients that clash with our mission to promote cleaner eating. The extensive use of non-organic ingredients, GMOs, added sugars, and harmful additives underscores the rationale behind the minimal green leaf rating. The product stands as an example of what our guidelines aim to steer consumers away from, advocating for greater transparency and health consciousness in the food industry. Choosing this burrito would not align with an informed decision toward a cleaner, healthier diet.