Breads
Guerrero Carb Watch Whole Wheat Tortilla Wraps
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
- Contains whole grains
Why it scores 36
Guerrero Carb Watch Whole Wheat Tortilla Wraps scores 36 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
- 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
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better tortillas and wraps
-
Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas Stacey's Organic Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 93 out of 100 , 57 points higher -
Whole Wheat Tortillas De Casa · 20 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 64 points higher -
Stone-Milled Whole Wheat Tortillas One Mighty Mill Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 92 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
CarbBueno Whole Wheat Tortillas Maria & Ricardo's Less salt · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 69 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Carb Cutting Whole Wheat Tortillas La Tortilla Factory · 13 oz Less salt · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 69 out of 100 , 33 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Carb Watch Whole Wheat Tortilla Wraps
Ingredients
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Vegetable shortening minus 1.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
- Calcium propionate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 3 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 182 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 30.3 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 12.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 64 = 36
Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel color, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [16]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 182 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 9.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 3 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 39.4 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 30.3 g |
| Protein | 12.1 g |
| Salt | 1.7 g |
Serving: 1 tortilla (33 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH
- WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR
- VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN
- WHEAT GLUTEN ISOLATE
- VEGETABLE SHORTENING (INTERESTERIFIED AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS)
- CRACKED FLAXSEED
- SALT
- SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE
- BAKING SODA
- DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDE
- CARAMEL COLOR (high concern)
- FUMARIC ACID
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- SUCRALOSE AND CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND SORBIC ACID (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS)
Label text, as published
WATER, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, WHEAT GLUTEN ISOLATE, VEGETABLE SHORTENING (INTERESTERIFIED AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS), CRACKED FLAXSEED, CONTAINS 1% OR LESS OF: SALT, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDE, CARAMEL COLOR, FUMARIC ACID, CELLULOSE GUM, SUCRALOSE AND CALCIUM PROPIONATE AND SORBIC ACID (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS)
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
“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
-
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
-
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
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“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