Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Croissant

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Croissant scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (High Fructose Corn Syrup, Dextrin): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Modified Starches (Contains Less Than 2%: Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Chemical Preservatives (Sodium Nitrite): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Other Additives (Monoglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Erythorbate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor, Natural Smoke Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Breakfast Foods, this product is more processed than about 55% of the 422 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Croissant's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Stabilizers & GumsUPF marker

In this product: Xanthan Gum.

Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Margarine (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Sugar, Soy Lecithin, Mono- & Diglycerides, Potassium Sorbate And Citric Acid [Preservatives], Artificial Color, Beta Carotene Color, Vitamin A Palmitate), Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Contains Less Than 2%: Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Shortening (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And Cottonseed Oils).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Calcium Propionate.

Natural sources but industrial application.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Ascorbic Acid Added As A Dough Conditioner.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid [Preservative].

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.