Help us turn our website into an app, Support our Fundraiser!

Wendy’s

Flavor:

Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe

Ingredients:

Sandwich Bun: Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup and/or Sugar, Wheat Gluten, Soybean Oil, Yeast, Salt, Yellow Corn Flour, Colors (Annatto and Turmeric), Contains less than 2% of each of the following: Calcium Propionate (Added as a Preservative), Cultured Wheat Flour, Dextrin, Dough Conditioners (Contains One or More of the Following: Ascorbic Acid [Vitamin C], Calcium Iodate, Calcium Peroxide, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Sulfate, Datem, Distilled Monoglycerides, Enzymes, Ethoxylated Monoglycerides and Diglycerides, Monoglycerides and/or Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate [SSL]), Maltodextrin, Natural Flavor, Wheat Flour, Whole Grain Corn Flour, Yeast Foods (Contains One or More of the Following: Ammonium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Sesame Flour. CONTAINS WHEAT, SESAME.

Jr. Hamburger Patty: Ground Beef, Salt. HAMBURGER PATTIES ARE COOKED ON THE SAME GRILL AS AND MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH INGREDIENTS THAT CONTAIN MILK AND SOY.

Tomato: Tomato.

American Cheese Slice: Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Contains 2% or less of Apocarotenal and Beta Carotene (Color), Cheese Culture, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Soy Lecithin. CONTAINS: MILK, SOY.

Lettuce: Lettuce

Mayonnaise: Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolks, Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Mustard Seed, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor). CONTAINS: EGG.

Crinkle Cut Pickles: Cucumber, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Lactic Acid, Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80 and Turmeric.

Ketchup: Tomato Concentrate from Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Salt, Natural Flavoring, Spices, Onion Powder. CONTAINS EGG.

Sweet Onion: Onion.

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, the Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe falls short of cleaner food standards. This product is not organic and contains genetically modified ingredients, which detracts from its healthfulness. It includes added sugars such as sugar, citric acid, and fructose, alongside more concerning high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup, which are linked to negative health impacts. The presence of potentially harmful additives like natural flavors, diglycerides, enriched flour, monoglycerides, polysorbate 80, soy lecithin, calcium disodium EDTA, and DATEM further diminishes its rating. Known harmful additives such as sodium benzoate and maltodextrin are also present, raising additional health concerns. Harmful oils, specifically soybean oil, are used in the product, which is another reason for the low score.

The ingredients list reveals a complex mix of items that go into the Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe. The sandwich bun contains a variety of components, including high fructose corn syrup and several dough conditioners. The beef patty is simple, consisting of ground beef and salt, but it has potential contact with milk and soy. Other ingredients such as American cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles, ketchup, and sweet onion contribute to the product’s overall composition, each bringing their own additives and preservatives.

The product’s low green leaf rating reflects the concerns over its ingredient quality and the use of additives and preservatives that are best avoided for a cleaner diet. It is important for consumers seeking healthier food options to be aware of the contents of such products and the potential implications for health. The Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe, with its extensive list of non-organic, GMO, and potentially harmful ingredients, is not recommended for those looking to make cleaner food choices.