Flours
Mission Carb Balance Burrito Tortillas
15 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 52
Mission Carb Balance Burrito Tortillas scores 52 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 7.5 points 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, industrial fat, industrial protein, modified starch, non-nutritive sweetener and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better tortillas and wraps
-
Whole Grain Corn Tortillas Romero's · 38 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 93 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Tortilla espanola Trader Joe's · 21.16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 90 out of 100 , 38 points higher -
Corn/Maiz Tortillas El Milagro · 10 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Corn Tortilla Trader Joe's · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 48 points higher -
Organic yellow corn tortillas New Seasons · 528 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 96 out of 100 , 44 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Carb Balance Burrito Tortillas
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 2.5 points
- Vegetable shortening minus 1.5 points
- Calcium propionate minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 1.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 0.5 points
- Sorbic acid minus 0.5 points
- Stevia (steviol glycosides) 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 2.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Fiber 39.4 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 14.1 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 48 = 52
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [14]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 155 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 8.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45.1 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 39.4 g |
| Protein | 14.1 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 1 tortilla (71 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH
- WHEAT FLOUR
- VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN
- WHEAT GLUTEN ISOLATE
- VEGETABLE SHORTENING (INTERESTERIFIED AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS)
- SALT
- CALCIUM PROPIONATE (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)
- DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES
- SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE
- BAKING SODA
- SORBIC ACID (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)
- FUMARIC ACID
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES
Label text, as published
WATER, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, WHEAT FLOUR, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, WHEAT GLUTEN ISOLATE, VEGETABLE SHORTENING (INTERESTERIFIED AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS), SALT, CALCIUM PROPIONATE (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS), DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, SORBIC ACID (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS), FUMARIC ACID, CELLULOSE GUM, STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES.
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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“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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
“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
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
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
-
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
-
“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