Wheat flatbreads
Great Value Flour Tortillas
12 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 47
Great Value Flour Tortillas 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 8 points 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, flavoring, industrial fat, industrial protein, modified starch, non-nutritive sweetener and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
- 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 , 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
Flour Tortillas
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
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate minus 1.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 0.5 points
- Calcium propionate minus 0.5 points
- Sorbic acid minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 2.4 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 167 kcal / 100 g minus 1 points
- Fiber 31 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 11.9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 53 = 47
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [18]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 167 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 6 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45.2 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 31 g |
| Protein | 11.9 g |
| Salt | 1.7 g |
Serving: 1 TORTILLA (42 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH
- ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
- WHEAT GLUTEN
- VEGETABLE SHORTENING (INTERESTERIFIED AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS)
- WHEAT GLUTEN ISOLATE
- SALT
- BAKING SODA
- SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- FUMARIC ACID
- CALCIUM PROPIONATE (PRESERVATIVE)
- SORBIC ACID (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)
Label text, as published
WATER, MODIFIED WHEAT STARCH, ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WHEAT GLUTEN, VEGETABLE SHORTENING (INTERESTERIFIED AND HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS), WHEAT GLUTEN ISOLATE, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, CELLULOSE GUM, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUCRALOSE, FUMARIC ACID, AND CALCIUM PROPIONATE (PRESERVATIVE), SORBIC ACID (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Soy, Wheat, Gluten
- 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
-
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
-
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
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.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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“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
-
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
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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