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Taco Bell

Flavor:

Chicken Quesadilla

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], 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], Grilled Chicken: White Meat Chicken With Rib Meat, Water, Seasoning (Modified Potato Starch, Salt, Yeast Extract, Spices, Sugar, Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate And Guanylate, Torula Yeast, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Natural Flavors, And 2% Or Less Of Soybean Oil Added As A Processing Aid), Sodium Phosphates, 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:

Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla ranks low on our scale for cleaner food options. This product is not organic and includes genetically modified (GMO) ingredients, which immediately reduces its standing. It features added sugars such as molasses and sugar, alongside citric acid, which contributes to its lower score.

Further detracting from its health credentials are additional sweeteners like dextrose, which we consider more harmful. The presence of various additives, including natural flavors and diglycerides, along with enriched wheat flour and preservatives like potassium sorbate and calcium disodium EDTA, raise concerns. These ingredients are typically associated with processed foods and may have potential health implications.

The quesadilla also contains propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, maltodextrin, and sodium metabisulfite, identified as known harmful additives. These substances, often found in processed foods, have been linked to adverse health effects and thus severely impact the product’s score.

Furthermore, the use of soybean oil, which we categorize as a harmful oil due to its highly processed nature and potential inflammation-promoting properties, further diminishes the product’s rating.

The Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla’s ingredient list reflects a composition that is far from our criteria for cleaner, healthier food options. With a plethora of non-organic, GMO, and additive-laden ingredients, it earns the lowest possible green leaf rating we offer. Consumers seeking cleaner, more wholesome food choices are advised to consider alternatives that prioritize organic ingredients, avoid GMOs, and minimize the use of additives and processed sugars.