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Taco Bell

Flavor:

Cheesy Bean And Rice 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], Refried Beans: Pinto Beans, Soybean Oil, Seasoning (Salt, Sugar, Spice, Beet Powder (Vc), Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Corn Flour, Trehalose, Modified Cornstarch). [certified Vegan], 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], 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], Creamy Jalapeno Sauce: Soybean Oil, Water, Vinegar, Jalapeno Peppers, Buttermilk, Spices, Cage-free Egg Yolk, 2% Or Less Of: Dextrose, Chili Powder, Salt, Natural Flavors, Sugar, Onion Powder, Paprika (Vc), Minced Onion, Garlic Powder, Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali, Dried Onion, Glucono-delta-lactone, Modified Food Starch, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (P), Sodium Benzoate (P), Sorbic Acid (P), Disodium Inosinate And Disodium Guanylate, Lactic Acid, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid (Pf), Calcium Disodium Edta (P). Contains: Milk, Egg [certified Vegetarian]

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, the Taco Bell Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito is presented as an option that falls short of cleaner food standards. The product is not organic, and its ingredients list includes GMOs, which detracts significantly from its score. Added sugars such as molasses and sugar, alongside citric acid, contribute to its low rating. The presence of dextrose, a more concerning added sugar, further diminishes its standing.

The ingredient profile reveals a range of additives that raise red flags for health-conscious consumers. These include natural flavors and diglycerides, as well as enriched wheat flour and xanthan gum. More alarming are the known harmful additives, such as propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, maltodextrin, and sodium metabisulfite, which are all elements that contribute to the product’s minimal score. Additionally, the use of oils like canola, soybean, and unspecified vegetable oils, which are considered harmful, further impacts the product’s rating.

The Taco Bell Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito’s composition reflects a reliance on ingredients that are commonly avoided by those seeking cleaner eating options. The absence of organic certification and the inclusion of GMOs are initial indicators of its low score. The accumulation of added sugars and various harmful additives, both potential and known, substantiates the score’s basis. The presence of oils deemed harmful consolidates the product’s position at the lower end of the scale.

The evaluation process for this burrito underscores the importance of transparency and careful selection of ingredients in food products. The 1/5 green leaves rating signals to consumers the need for caution and, ideally, to steer clear of this offering in favor of cleaner, more wholesome food choices. This product stands as an example of what the website aims to help consumers avoid in a market saturated with options that do not align with the principles of cleaner, healthier eating.