Is Funyuns Steakhouse Onion Onion Flavored Rings Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Frito-Lay Company
Funyuns Steakhouse Onion Onion Flavored Rings is a snack from Frito-Lay Company. 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 Monosodium Glutamate, Artificial Color.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The ingredient composition includes enriched corn meal and vegetable oil, but also contains artificial colors and monosodium glutamate, raising quality concerns. The presence of buttermilk and natural flavors adds some positive aspects.
Main concern
Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that may raise concerns for some consumers due to its synthetic nature.
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
- Enriched corn meal provides essential nutrients like niacin and folic acid, contributing positively to the overall composition.
- Natural flavors and buttermilk enhance the taste profile, indicating some use of real ingredients.
Concerns
- Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that may raise concerns for some consumers due to its synthetic nature.
- Artificial colors (Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 1 Lake) indicate a processed composition, which can detract from perceived quality.
Who should avoid this product?
This snack may not be the best fit for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- users trying to avoid sulfates
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this snack so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Enriched Corn Meal safe in this snack?
Medium
Enriched Corn Meal is used here as base. Enriched corn meal serves as the primary ingredient, providing a base for the product. Its enrichment with vitamins adds some nutritional value, though it is still a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: base
Original: ENRICHED CORN MEAL (CORN MEAL, FERROUS SULFATE, NIACIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)
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Is Vegetable Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Vegetable Oil is used here as base. Vegetable oil, a blend of corn, canola, and/or sunflower oil, is used for frying. While it provides texture, the processing raises some health concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, CANOLA, AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL)
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Is Buttermilk safe in this snack?
Good
Buttermilk is used here as base. Buttermilk adds a creamy flavor and some nutritional benefits, being a dairy product that contributes to the overall taste profile.
Role in formula: base
Original: BUTTERMILK
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Is Monosodium Glutamate safe in this snack?
Bad
Monosodium Glutamate is used here as flavor. Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that can cause sensitivity in some individuals. Its synthetic nature raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE
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Is Artificial Color safe in this snack?
Bad
Artificial Color is used here as colorant. Artificial colors like Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, and Blue 1 Lake are synthetic additives used for visual appeal but raise concerns about processed ingredients.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: ARTIFICIAL COLOR (RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE)
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: 2409793
More from this brand: Frito-Lay Company products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack 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.