Red Refried Beans

Why Does This Score Highly Processed?

In our analysis, Red Refried Beans scores Highly Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Natural Flavors (Monosodium Glutamate): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Plant Proteins (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein): Isolated proteins require extensive industrial processing.
• Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Inosinate): Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.

Within Beans & Legumes, this product is more processed than about 82% of the 4,710 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 Red Refried Beans' ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Blend Of Vegetable Oils (Contains One Or More Of The Following: Soybean Oil, Cottonseed Oil, Sunflower Oil).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Ferrous Gluconate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Niacin, Vitamin B12, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.