Tamales

Processing Score

17.0Ultra-Processed

02.55.08.010+

Nutrition Score

3/10Fair

The processing score reflects 58 ingredients, including MSG, preservatives, corn syrup, plus 4 more we flag. No nutrient exceeds our high thresholds.

Data Updated

Oct 18, 2026

UPC

041331091909

Find Less Processed Options Buy on Amazon

We may earn a commission from Amazon purchases.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size113 g

Amount per serving

Calories

280

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 15g

19%

Saturated Fat 5g

25%

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 15mg

Sodium 500mg

22%

Total Carbohydrate 30g

11%

Dietary Fiber 1g

Total Sugars 2g

Protein 5g

Calcium 40mg

Iron 1.4mg

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

20 listed · 8 flagged for review

WATER, INSTANT CORN FLOUR, REFINED LARD (LARD, BHA AND BHT AS ANTIOXIDANTS), RENDERED CURED PORK FAT (CURED WITH WATER, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, SALT, SUGAR, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, AND SODIUM NITRITE), MONTEREY JACK CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT AND ENZYMES), ROASTED GREEN CHILE (ROASTED GREEN CHILES, WATER, CITRIC ACID, SALT AND CALCIUM CHLORIDE), TOMATILLO (TOMATILLO, WATER, SALT AND CITRIC ACID), CHICKEN FLAVOR (HYDROLYZED CORN PROTEIN, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, YEAST EXTRACT, CHICKEN FAT, SALT, CHICKEN MEAT, NATURAL FLAVOR, SILICON DIOXIDE AS ANTICAKING AGENT, DISODIUM INOSINATE AND DISODIUM GUANYLATE), GREEN BELL PEPPER STRIPS, CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, AND ENZYMES), BLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (BLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SUGAR, SALT, GARLIC, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, CAYENNE PEPPER.

Listed in source order (heaviest first). Select any ingredient to see its category bucket and other products that contain it.

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Tamales scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
Other Additives (Roasted Green Chile (Roasted Green Chiles, Water, Citric Acid, Salt And Calcium Chloride), Tomatillo (Tomatillo, Water, Salt And Citric Acid)): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
Natural Flavors (Monosodium Glutamate): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

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 Tamales' ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Rendered Cured Pork Fat (Cured With Water, Corn Syrup Solids, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Erythorbate, And Sodium Nitrite), Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Ketzal for iPhone

Avoiding Milk, Wheat Or Soy?

This product lists milk, wheat and soy in its ingredients. Ketzal, our iPhone app, tracks these and other allergens and ingredients on your Avoid List. Download Ketzal to set up your own Avoid List and get an alert when a product you scan contains something on it.

Get Ketzal