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Taco Bell

Flavor:

Grilled Cheese 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], 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], 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], 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], Creamy Chipotle Sauce: Soybean Oil, Water, Vinegar, Cage-free Egg Yolk, 2% Or Less Of Chili Peppers, Chipotle Peppers, Salt, Sugar, Roasted Garlic, Natural Flavor, Natural Smoke Flavor, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika Extract (C), Xanthan Gum, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Sodium Benzoate (P), Potassium Sorbate (P), Calcium Disodium Edta (Pf), Citric Acid, Potassium Chloride, Maltodextrin. Contains: Egg [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]

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Awarded a 1/5 green leaf rating, the Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burrito falls significantly short of meeting the standards for cleaner food options. This product is not organic and contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs), factors that contribute to its low score. The presence of added sugars, including molasses and sugar, raises concerns, while the inclusion of dextrose—a form of sugar with potentially more adverse health impacts—further diminishes its standing.

The burrito’s ingredient list features a range of additives such as natural flavors, diglycerides, enriched wheat flour, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, calcium disodium EDTA, and sodium citrate. These additives are considered potentially harmful and detract from the product’s overall healthfulness. More alarmingly, it contains carrageenan, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, maltodextrin, and sodium metabisulfite, which are identified as known harmful additives, justifying further deductions from its score.

Additionally, the use of oils like canola, soybean, and unspecified vegetable oils, which are implicated in health issues, reinforces the product’s low rating. The burrito’s composition does not align with the goal of providing cleaner, healthier food options to consumers. It is heavily processed and laden with ingredients that are best minimized in a health-conscious diet.

The Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burrito, with its 1/5 green leaf rating, is a product our analysis deems advisable to avoid. The extensive list of non-organic, GMO, and potentially harmful ingredients underscores the need for more vigilant selection in pursuit of cleaner eating. Consumers seeking healthier alternatives would be well-advised to consider other options that prioritize organic ingredients, eschew GMOs, and eliminate harmful additives and sugars.