Is Cheesy Jalapeños Potato Tots Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Season's Choice
This page reviews Cheesy Jalapeños Potato Tots by Season's Choice as a snack. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Modified Cellulose.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several processed ingredients like sodium bisulfite and sorbic acid, which raise quality concerns. The presence of modified starches and colors indicates a highly processed product.
Main concern
Sodium bisulfite is a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains jalapeño pepper, providing a natural flavor and some heat.
- Includes cheddar cheese, which adds a rich taste and texture.
- Potato as a primary ingredient offers a familiar base for snacks.
- Cilantro adds a fresh herb flavor, enhancing overall taste.
Concerns
- Sodium bisulfite is a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns.
- Sorbic acid is another preservative that indicates a processed nature.
- Modified cellulose and starches may raise concerns about processing levels.
- Caramel color and other artificial colors suggest the use of synthetic additives.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- users trying to avoid sulfates
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this snack and why it matters.
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Is Rehydrated Potato safe in this snack?
Medium
Rehydrated Potato is used here as base. Rehydrated potato serves as the main ingredient, providing a familiar texture. However, the processing raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: rehydrated potato (water, hashbrown [potato, salt, dextrose, sodium bisulfite])
-
Is Process Cheddar Cheese safe in this snack?
Medium
Process Cheddar Cheese is used here as flavor. Process cheddar cheese adds flavor and creaminess but contains several additives that may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: process cheddar cheese (milk, water, salt, cream, cheese culture, sodium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sorbic acid [preservative], enzymes, lactic acid, sodium citrate, milk fat, apocarotenal (color), potato starch, cellulose, natamycin)
-
Is Canola Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Canola Oil is used here as base. Canola oil is used for frying, providing texture but is a refined oil that may raise health concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: canola oil
-
Is Jalapeno Pepper safe in this snack?
Good
Jalapeno Pepper is used here as flavor. Jalapeño pepper adds natural heat and flavor, contributing positively to the overall taste profile.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: jalapeño pepper (jalapeño peppers, vinegar, salt, natural flavors)
-
Is Onions safe in this snack?
Good
Onions is used here as flavor. Onions provide a natural flavor base, enhancing the overall taste of the product.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: onions
-
Is Batter Base safe in this snack?
Medium
Batter Base is used here as base. The batter base includes enriched wheat flour and modified starches, indicating a processed nature that may raise concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: batter base (enriched wheat flour (niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], modified corn starch, corn flour, salt, caramel color, leavening [sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate], modified cellulose, turmeric, annatto color, extractives of paprika)
-
Is Cheddar Cheese safe in this snack?
Medium
Cheddar Cheese is used here as flavor. Cheddar cheese adds flavor but is processed, which may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: cheddar cheese (milk, bacterial culture, salt, calcium chloride, microbial enzyme)
-
Is Cilantro safe in this snack?
Good
Cilantro is used here as flavor. Cilantro adds a fresh herb flavor, enhancing the overall taste and providing a natural ingredient.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: cilantro
-
Is Baking Powder safe in this snack?
Medium
Baking Powder is used here as leavening. Baking powder is used for leavening but contains synthetic components that may raise concerns.
Role in formula: leavening
Original: baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate monohydrate, calcium sulfate)
-
Is Rice Flour safe in this snack?
Medium
Rice Flour is used here as base. Rice flour is used as a filler and may raise concerns about processing levels.
Role in formula: base
Original: rice flour
-
Is Dextrose safe in this snack?
Medium
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a simple sugar that may raise concerns about added sugars in processed foods.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: dextrose
-
Is Salt safe in this snack?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor but should be consumed in moderation.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Modified Cellulose safe in this snack?
Bad
Modified Cellulose is used here as thickener. Modified cellulose is a processed ingredient that raises concerns about its synthetic nature.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: modified cellulose
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3460438
More from this brand: Season's Choice products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: wheat , milk
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.