Nacho Cheese Flavored Corn Chips

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Nacho Cheese Flavored Corn Chips scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Artificial Colors (Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6, +1 more): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Natural Flavors (Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavor, Disodium Inosinate And Disodium Guanylate (Flavor Enchancers)): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Chips & Crisps, this product is more processed than about 85% of the 10,682 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 Nacho Cheese Flavored Corn Chips' 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: Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following: Corn, Cottonseed, Sunflower, Or Canola Oil).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Corn Maltodextrin.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Disodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.