Food
La Burrita Corn tortillas
10
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 48
La Burrita Corn tortillas scores 48 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- 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
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Corn Tortilla Trader Joe's · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Sprouted Corn Tortillas Food For Life · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 96 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Corn/Maiz Tortillas El Milagro · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Organic yellow corn tortilla Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 52 points higher -
Corn tortillas El Molino · 24 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 52 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Corn tortillas
Ingredients
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Sodium propionate minus 2.5 points
- Sorbic acid minus 1.5 points
- Propionic acid minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
100 − 52.5 = 47.5 → 48
Can’t score above 79. Contains dextrose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Added sugars | 10.4 g |
|---|
Serving: 38
Ingredients
- corn masa flour (yellow corn treated with hydrated lime, fumaric acid [acidulant], cellulose gum [stabilizer], sodium propionate [preservative], sorbic acid preservative)
- water
- dextrose (high concern)
- antimicrobial blend (sodium propionate, water, sorbic acid [preservative]) (not recognized)
- dough conditioner (cellulose gum, dextrose, enzymes)
Label text, as published
corn masa flour (yellow corn treated with hydrated lime, fumaric acid [acidulant], cellulose gum [stabilizer], sodium propionate [preservative], sorbic acid preservative]), water, dextrose, antimicrobial blend (sodium propionate [propionic acid, sodium hydroxide], water, sorbic acid [preservative]), dough conditioner (cellulose gum, dextrose, enzymes).
Allergens and diets
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
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Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
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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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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
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“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
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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
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“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
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“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
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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
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“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
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“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