Is Chicken Nuggets Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Great Value
Chicken Nuggets is one of the food products analyzed by Zerotox for Great Value. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Modified Corn Starch, Soy Protein Isolate, Defatted Soy Flour affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several processed ingredients like modified corn starch and soy protein isolate, which raise quality concerns. The presence of garlic powder and spice extracts adds flavor but does not significantly enhance the overall quality.
Main concern
Modified corn starch is a processed ingredient that may raise concerns about quality.
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 chicken as the primary ingredient, providing a source of meat.
- Includes garlic powder, which can enhance flavor naturally.
- Spice extracts may contribute to a more complex taste profile.
- Water is included, which is essential for moisture.
Concerns
- Modified corn starch is a processed ingredient that may raise concerns about quality.
- Soy protein isolate is highly processed and may not be favorable for all consumers.
- Toasted wheat crumbs and wheat flour indicate the presence of refined grains.
- Guar gum is a thickener that can be viewed as unnecessary in a simple product.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this food.
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Is Chicken safe in this food?
Good
Chicken is used here as base. Chicken serves as the primary protein source in this product, contributing to its meat content and flavor.
Role in formula: base
Original: Chicken
-
Is Water safe in this food?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water is essential for maintaining moisture in the nuggets, ensuring a palatable texture.
Role in formula: base
Original: Water
-
Is Toasted Wheat Crumbs safe in this food?
Medium
Toasted Wheat Crumbs is used here as base. Toasted wheat crumbs provide texture but are a processed ingredient that may not offer significant nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: base
Original: Toasted wheat crumbs
-
Is Modified Corn Starch safe in this food?
Bad
Modified Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Modified corn starch is a processed thickener that raises concerns about the overall quality and processing level of the product.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Modified corn starch
-
Is Wheat Flour safe in this food?
Medium
Wheat Flour is used here as base. Wheat flour is a refined grain that may lack the nutritional benefits of whole grains, impacting the overall health profile.
Role in formula: base
Original: Wheat flour
-
Is Yellow Corn Flour safe in this food?
Medium
Yellow Corn Flour is used here as base. Yellow corn flour is a processed ingredient that contributes to texture but may not provide significant nutritional value.
Role in formula: base
Original: Yellow corn flour
-
Is Soy Protein Isolate safe in this food?
Bad
Soy Protein Isolate is used here as base. Soy protein isolate is a highly processed ingredient that may not be suitable for all consumers and raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: Soy protein isolate
-
Is Salt safe in this food?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is used to enhance flavor, but excessive amounts can raise health concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Salt
-
Is Canola And Or Sunflower Oil safe in this food?
Medium
Canola And Or Sunflower Oil is used here as base. Canola and sunflower oils are commonly used for frying, but their processing level may raise concerns for some consumers.
Role in formula: base
Original: Canola and/or sunflower oil
Read the full ingredient profile for Canola And Or Sunflower Oil
-
Is Baking Powder safe in this food?
Medium
Baking Powder is used here as leavening agent. Baking powder is used to help the nuggets rise during cooking, but it is a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: leavening agent
Original: Baking powder
-
Is Defatted Soy Flour safe in this food?
Bad
Defatted Soy Flour is used here as base. Defatted soy flour is a processed ingredient that may not provide significant nutritional benefits and raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: Defatted soy flour
-
Is Garlic Powder safe in this food?
Good
Garlic Powder is used here as flavor. Garlic powder adds flavor and may offer some health benefits, contributing positively to the product's profile.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Garlic powder
-
Is Guar Gum safe in this food?
Bad
Guar Gum is used here as thickener. Guar gum is a thickener that can be viewed as unnecessary in a simple product, raising concerns about processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Guar gum
-
Is Spice Extracts safe in this food?
Good
Spice Extracts is used here as flavor. Spice extracts contribute to flavor complexity and may enhance the overall taste experience.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Spice extracts
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: 3377423
More from this brand: Great Value products in Zerotox
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: wheat , soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.