Wheat flatbreads
Chi-Chi's Flour Tortillas Burrito Size
17 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
Why it scores 46
Chi-Chi's Flour Tortillas Burrito Size scores 46 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose): In a small randomized feeding trial, carboxymethylcellulose modestly increased abdominal discomfort and reduced gut microbiota diversity; in mice it promoted low-grade inflammation. Strong
- minus 7 points Salt 1.8 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better tortillas and wraps
-
Flour Tortillas Vista Hermosa · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 93 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Flour Tortillas De Casa · 43 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 86 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas Stacey's Organic Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 93 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Flour Tortilla La Flor · 18 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 84 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Homemade Flour Tortillas Rodriguez Bakery · 20 oz/570 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 81 out of 100 , 35 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Flour Tortillas Burrito Size
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Vegetable shortening minus 2.5 points
- Sodium aluminum sulfate minus 2.5 points
- Sodium aluminum phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 1.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Sodium propionate minus 0.5 points
- Potassium sorbate minus 0.5 points
- Canola oil minus 0.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 0.5 points
- Microcrystalline cellulose minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 3.3 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.8 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 358 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 54 = 46
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [19]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 358 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.3 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 51.7 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.7 g |
| Protein | 6.7 g |
| Salt | 1.8 g |
Serving: 1 tortilla (60 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- WATER
- SHORTENING (SOYBEAN OIL AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL)
- LEAVENING (SODIUM BICARBONATE, SODIUM ALUMINUM SULFATE, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE) (not recognized)
- DOUGH CONDITIONERS (MONO - AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM SULFATE, ENZYMES, L-CYSTEINE MONO-HYDROCHLORIDE)
- VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN
- SODIUM PROPIONATE (PRESERVATIVE)
- FUMARIC ACID
- SALT
- POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE)
- CORNSTARCH
- SOY FLOUR
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- WHEAT STARCH
- CANOLA OIL
- XANTHAN GUM
- MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE
Label text, as published
ENRICHED FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, SHORTENING (SOYBEAN OIL AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF LEAVENING (SODIUM BICARBONATE,SODIUM ALUMINUM SULFATE, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE), DOUGH CONDITIONERS (MONO - AND DIGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM SULFATE, ENZYMES, L-CYSTEINE MONO-HYDROCHLORIDE), VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, SODIUM PROPIONATE (PRESERVATIVE), FUMARIC ACID, SALT, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), CORNSTARCH, SOY FLOUR, CELLULOSE GUM, WHEAT STARCH, CANOLA OIL, XANTHAN GUM, MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
“In addition, EFSA considers that the revised TWI is generally exceeded for high consumers, especially children, in a significant part of the Union.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
-
11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca
-
“By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”
doi.org
-
21 CFR 182.3640 Potassium sorbate
ecfr.gov
-
“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org