Chipotle Beef Flaky Empanada Crust Sandwiches

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Chipotle Beef Flaky Empanada Crust Sandwiches scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Modified Fats (Fractionated Palm Oil): Hydrogenation and modification are UPF markers.
• Dough Conditioners (L-Cysteine Hydrochloride): Industrial bread additives not used in home baking.
• Other Additives (Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Industrial Enzymes (Enzymes): Industrial enzyme use indicates significant processing.

Within Frozen Appetizers, this product is more processed than about 39% of the 4,714 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 Chipotle Beef Flaky Empanada Crust Sandwiches' 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: Methylcellulose.

Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Beef Flavored Base (Water, Dried Beef Stock, Salt, Bacon Fat [Tbhq And Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor], Canola Oil, Garlic Puree, Roasted Pepper Puree, Spices, Corn Oil, Smoked Paprika, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Sugar, Natural Flavors, Maltodextrin, 2% Or Less Of Chili Powder, Lime Juice Concentrate, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Dried Chipotle Chiles, Concentrated Beef Stock, Disodium Phosphate, Grill Flavor [From Vegetable Oil], Smoke Flavor, Enzyme Modified Cream, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid), Pastry Margarine (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Palm Oil, Water, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Sugar, Mono And Diglycerides, Soybean Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate And Citric Acid [Preservatives], Annatto/Turmeric [Color], Vitamin A Palmitate), Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Palm Oil (Palm Oil, Citric Acid), Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Calcium Sulfate, Tricalcium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.