Let’s cut the small talk. I want to dive straight into an unpleasant subject: ultra-processed foods. Some may know them as fast foods or junk foods, but I’ll stick to the term ultra-processed because it’s more accurate. You see, these products are so far from their original food sources, they could qualify as distant cousins, twice removed. As an example, let’s zoom in on a fan-favorite fast-food franchise, Taco Bell.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I used to love a good run to the border, just like everyone else. But ever wonder what’s actually in your beloved Bean and Cheese Burrito from Taco Bell? Well, buckle up, folks. This is not a ride for the faint of heart.

To start, the beans. You’d think it would just be beans, right? Wrong. It’s a concoction of pinto beans, soybean oil, and seasoning, which includes a scary amount of sodium.

Then we have the cheese, which, in a perfect world, should just be, well, cheese. But in the world of ultra-processed food, it’s a melange of cheese, anti-caking agents, and colorings. More preservatives and artificial additives are lurking in there than you’d care to know.

Now, let’s get to the tortilla. What should be a simple mix of flour, water, maybe a touch of salt, and oil, turns into a chemical lab project with dough conditioners, emulsifiers, and more preservatives.

All these additives have long, complex names that most of us can’t even pronounce, let alone understand. For what? So our food can sit on the shelf longer? So it looks more appealing? So the texture feels right?

Enough is enough. These ultra-processed foods aren’t just bad for us. They’re engineered to keep us coming back for more with their addictive salt, sugar, and fat contents. This stuff can trigger various health issues, ranging from heart disease to diabetes to certain types of cancer.

You might think I’m exaggerating, but the harsh truth is, these foods are a slow poison. Sure, a Taco Bell burrito isn’t going to kill you overnight. But a steady diet of ultra-processed foods certainly isn’t doing your health any favors.

We need to wake up. We need to stop fooling ourselves into thinking it’s okay because it’s convenient, or it’s cheap, or it’s comforting. We need to realize that these multi-billion-dollar food corporations aren’t looking out for our health. They’re looking out for their bottom line.

Don’t be fooled by nostalgic tastes or savvy marketing. Read the labels. Do your research. Better yet, if you can, skip the processed stuff and opt for real, whole foods. They might not come with the convenience or the low price tag, but they certainly won’t come with a hidden list of potentially harmful additives either.

Remember, food is meant to nourish us, not harm us. And from where I’m standing, ultra-processed foods seem to be doing a lot more of the latter than the former. It’s high time we started treating them with the caution they deserve.

 

So according to Taco Bells Nutrition info: https://www.tacobell.com/nutrition/info
The truth is, what’s being handed to you from that drive-thru window is not the creation of a chef, but the handiwork of a food scientist.

Here is what is in a Bean Burrito:
Refried Beans: Pinto beans, soybean oil, seasoning (salt, sugar, spice, beet powder (VC), natural flavors, sunflower oil, maltodextrin, corn flour, trehalose, modified cornstarch). [certified vegan]

Flour Tortilla: Bleached enriched wheat flour, malted barley flour, water, shortening (interesterified soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil), contains 2% or less of salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, yeast [yeast, sorbitan monostearate, ascorbic acid]), sugar, dough conditioners (mono- and diglycerides, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, enzymes, wheat starch, calcium carbonate, sodium metabisulfite, cellulose, corn starch, dicalcium phosphate, with tocopherols, ascorbic acid and citric acid [added as antioxidants]), calcium propionate (P), molasses. Contains: Wheat. [certified vegan],

Red Sauce: Water, seasoning (maltodextrin, modified corn starch, paprika, salt, tomato powder, spices, natural flavors, paprika (VC), onion powder, xanthan gum, malic acid, vitamin C, citric acid, torula yeast). [certified vegan],

Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes, annatto (VC)), anti-caking agent. Contains: Milk [certified vegetarian], Onions: Fresh onions. [certified vegan

Let’s dissect these ingredients one by one:

Pinto Beans: This is one of the healthier ingredients, offering fiber and protein. However, in refried form, they are typically cooked with unhealthy fats and large amounts of salt.

Soybean Oil: A common vegetable oil used in fast food due to its low cost. It’s high in omega-6 fatty acids, which in excess, can lead to inflammation and related diseases.

Seasoning (Salt, Sugar, Spice, Beet Powder, Natural Flavors, etc.): While some of these ingredients seem harmless, the high salt content can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. Natural flavors are also a concern because they are not necessarily natural and can contain many chemical compounds.

Malted Barley Flour, Mono- and Diglycerides, Fumaric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Enzymes, etc.: These are various additives used to improve texture, prolong shelf life, and enhance taste. However, some, like mono- and diglycerides, may contain trans fats which are harmful to the heart.

Sodium Metabisulfite: This is a preservative that can cause allergic reactions in some people and may lead to digestive discomfort.

Interesterified/Hydrogenated Oils: These are unhealthy fats used to improve texture and shelf life. They are linked to heart disease and other chronic conditions.

Red Sauce Seasoning (Maltodextrin, Modified Corn Starch, Paprika, Salt, etc.): While some ingredients like paprika are harmless, maltodextrin and modified corn starch are highly processed and can spike blood sugar levels. The high salt content is also a concern for heart health.

Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto, Anti-Caking Agent): While cheese can provide some nutritional value, the high salt content and the use of additives and colorings (annatto) decrease its nutritional profile.

Fresh Onions: These are a healthy ingredient offering fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

In conclusion, while some ingredients used in the Taco Bell bean and cheese burrito have nutritional value, many are highly processed and contain unhealthy fats, high levels of salt, and various additives and preservatives. Consuming these ingredients frequently and in large amounts could lead to various health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation.