Breads
Mission Carb Balance Flour Tortilla
8 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 47
Mission Carb Balance Flour Tortilla scores 47 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 Sucralose: In a 2022 randomized study, sucralose and saccharin altered the gut microbiome and impaired glucose responses in some people; a 2023 lab study raised questions about its by-product sucralose-6-acetate. 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 , 46 points higher -
Flour tortillas La Fe Tortilleria Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Flour Tortillas Vista Hermosa · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 93 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Flour Tortillas De Casa · 43 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 86 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Flour Tortilla La Flor · 18 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 84 out of 100 , 37 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Carb Balance Flour Tortilla
Ingredients
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 7.5 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Modified starch minus 2.5 points
- Wheat gluten minus 1.5 points
- Vegetable shortening minus 1.5 points
- Calcium propionate minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate 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 3.6 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 161 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 32.1 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 14.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 53.5 = 46.5 → 47
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [16]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 161 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 7.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 42.9 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 32.1 g |
| Protein | 14.3 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 28g
Ingredients
- WATER
- MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH
- ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- 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
- SORBICACID (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS) (not recognized)
- FUMARIC ACID
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
Label text, as published
WATER, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), 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, SORBICACID (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS), FUMARIC ACID, CELLULOSE GUM, SUCRALOSE.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sulphites
- 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
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
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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
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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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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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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
-
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
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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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