Is Extra Mature Cheddar Beef Burger Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Tesco
Extra Mature Cheddar Beef Burger is a meat product from Tesco. It has a Zerotox safety score of 60/100, which means it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The main ingredients worth reviewing are Sugar, Dextrose, Sodium Metabisulphite.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium metabisulphite as a preservative and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as a stabilizer, indicating some processed elements that raise quality concerns.
Main concern
Sodium metabisulphite is a synthetic preservative that raises concerns about the use of artificial additives.
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 79% beef, providing a substantial meat content that supports the overall protein profile.
- Includes extra mature cheddar cheese, which adds flavor and richness to the burger.
- Chives and dried onion contribute natural flavoring without artificial additives.
- Rice flour and tapioca starch serve as binders, enhancing texture without excessive processing.
Concerns
- Sodium metabisulphite is a synthetic preservative that raises concerns about the use of artificial additives.
- Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is a stabilizer that may indicate a processed composition, which can affect quality perception.
- Presence of sugar and dextrose suggests unnecessary sweetening, which may not be needed in a meat product.
- The inclusion of multiple starches may indicate a reliance on fillers rather than pure meat content.
Who should avoid this product?
This meat product may not be the best fit for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this meat product so the page answers more than a simple label list.
-
Is Beef safe in this meat product?
Good
Beef is used here as base. Beef is the primary ingredient, providing a high protein content and essential nutrients. Its quality is crucial for the overall product.
Role in formula: base
Original: Beef (79%)
-
Is Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese safe in this meat product?
Good
Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese is used here as flavor. Extra mature cheddar cheese adds depth of flavor and richness, enhancing the overall taste profile of the burger.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese (Milk) (13%)
Read the full ingredient profile for Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
-
Is Chives safe in this meat product?
Good
Chives is used here as natural_extract. Chives provide a fresh, mild onion flavor, contributing to the overall taste without artificial ingredients.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: Chives
-
Is Rice Flour safe in this meat product?
Medium
Rice Flour is used here as thickener. Rice flour acts as a binder, improving texture but may indicate a reliance on fillers rather than pure meat.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Rice Flour
-
Is Potato Starch safe in this meat product?
Medium
Potato Starch is used here as thickener. Potato starch serves as a thickening agent, which can enhance texture but may also suggest processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Potato Starch
-
Is Dried Onion safe in this meat product?
Good
Dried Onion is used here as flavor. Dried onion adds natural flavor, enhancing the burger's taste without the need for artificial additives.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Dried Onion
-
Is Salt safe in this meat product?
Medium
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is essential for flavor enhancement but should be used judiciously to avoid excessive sodium content.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Salt
-
Is Sugar safe in this meat product?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is included, which may not be necessary in a meat product and raises concerns about added sweetness.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Sugar
-
Is Spices safe in this meat product?
Good
Spices is used here as flavor. Spices contribute to flavor complexity, enhancing the overall taste profile without artificial ingredients.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Spices
-
Is Tapioca Starch safe in this meat product?
Medium
Tapioca Starch is used here as thickener. Tapioca starch is used as a thickening agent, which can improve texture but may indicate processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Tapioca Starch
-
Is Dextrose safe in this meat product?
Bad
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a form of sugar that may contribute unnecessary sweetness, raising concerns about ingredient necessity.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Dextrose
-
Is Sodium Metabisulphite safe in this meat product?
Bad
Sodium Metabisulphite is used here as preservative. Sodium metabisulphite is a synthetic preservative that raises concerns about the use of artificial additives in food.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: Preservative (Sodium Metabisulphite)
-
Is Yeast safe in this meat product?
Medium
Yeast is used here as flavor. Yeast is included for flavor enhancement and fermentation, but its necessity in this product may be questioned.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Yeast
-
Is Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose safe in this meat product?
Bad
Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose is used here as stabiliser. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is a synthetic stabilizer that may indicate a processed composition, raising quality concerns.
Role in formula: stabiliser
Original: Stabiliser (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose)
-
Is Maize Starch safe in this meat product?
Medium
Maize Starch is used here as thickener. Maize starch serves as a thickening agent, which can enhance texture but may also suggest reliance on fillers.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Maize Starch
-
Is Psyllium Husk Powder safe in this meat product?
Good
Psyllium Husk Powder is used here as natural_extract. Psyllium husk powder is a natural ingredient that can aid in texture and moisture retention, contributing positively.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: Psyllium Husk Powder
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: 3954423
More from this brand: Tesco products in Zerotox
Similar products: meat_product in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.