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Taco Bell

Flavor:

Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Ingredients:

Gordita Flatbread: Enriched Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Water, Soybean Oil, Yeast, Sugar, Vital Wheat Gluten, Contains 1% Or Less Of, Salt, Corn Syrup Solids, Oat Fiber, Dough Conditioners (Mono And Di-glycerides), Baking Powder, Soy Protein Isolate, Enzymes, Calcium Propionate (P). Contains: Wheat, Soy [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, 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], Iceberg Lettuce: Fresh Iceberg Lettuce [certified Vegan], Spicy Ranch Sauce: Soybean Oil, Water, Cultured Buttermilk, Vinegar, Cage-free Egg Yolk, Sour Cream, 2% Or Less Of: Sugar, Salt, Buttermilk, Spice, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Habanero Pepper, Natural Flavor, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glucono Delta-lactone, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Calcium Disodium Edta (P), Potassium Sorbate (P), Sodium Benzoate (P). Contains: Milk, Egg [certified Vegetarian], Taco Shells: Ground Corn, Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Corn And/or Cottonseed Oil), Oat Fiber. [certified Vegan], Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto (Vc)), Anti-caking Agent. Contains: Milk [certified Vegetarian]

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, the Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch falls at the bottom of our scale for cleaner food options. This product is not organic and contains GMO ingredients, which detracts significantly from its standing. Additionally, the inclusion of added sugars, particularly sugar and citric acid, further diminishes its rating. The situation worsens with the presence of more harmful added sugars like dextrose and corn syrup.

The Cheesy Gordita Crunch also contains a range of potentially harmful additives. Ingredients such as natural flavor, flavor, enriched wheat flour, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, calcium disodium EDTA, and sodium citrate raise concerns. Moreover, the product includes known harmful additives like propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, and maltodextrin, which are particularly problematic.

Harmful oils are not spared, with soybean oil and vegetable oil making an appearance, contributing to the product’s low score. Such oils are often processed and may not align with cleaner, healthier eating practices.

A glance at the ingredients list reveals a complex array of components. The gordita flatbread contains enriched flour and soybean oil, while the seasoned beef includes cellulose and modified corn starch. The three cheese blend and spicy ranch sauce introduce additional dairy and egg elements, both flagged for containing preservatives and artificial colors. The taco shells and cheddar cheese, while simpler, still contain preservatives and anticaking agents, which are not ideal.

We advise consumers to avoid the Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch when seeking clean and healthy food options. The product’s composition, highlighting non-organic, GMO, and various additives, places it at a significant disadvantage in our rating system. Its score reflects a product that is far removed from the cleaner, more natural alternatives we advocate for.