Is Honey Mesquite Smoked Turkey Breast Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Hy-Vee
Honey Mesquite Smoked Turkey Breast is a meat product from Hy-Vee. 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 Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate, which are synthetic preservatives. These additives raise concerns about processed ingredients, impacting the overall quality rating.
Main concern
Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative used for color retention and shelf life, raising 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
- Turkey breast meat is a lean protein source, contributing positively to the product's nutritional profile.
- Honey adds a natural sweetness and flavor, enhancing the overall taste without synthetic sweeteners.
Concerns
- Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative used for color retention and shelf life, raising safety concerns.
- Modified corn starch is a processed thickener that may not align with clean eating preferences.
Who should avoid this product?
This meat product may not be the best fit for:
- 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 Turkey Breast Meat safe in this meat product?
Good
Turkey Breast Meat is used here as base. Turkey breast meat serves as the primary protein source in this product, providing essential nutrients without significant processing.
Role in formula: base
Original: TURKEY BREAST MEAT
-
Is Turkey Broth safe in this meat product?
Good
Turkey Broth is used here as base. Turkey broth adds moisture and flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile while being a natural ingredient.
Role in formula: base
Original: TURKEY BROTH
-
Is Honey safe in this meat product?
Good
Honey is used here as flavor. Honey contributes natural sweetness and flavor, providing a more wholesome alternative to artificial sweeteners.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: HONEY
-
Is Sugar safe in this meat product?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is present in small amounts, which may enhance flavor but raises concerns about added sugars in processed foods.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SUGAR
-
Is Modified Corn Starch safe in this meat product?
Medium
Modified Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Modified corn starch is used as a thickening agent, which may not align with clean eating preferences due to its processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: MODIFIED CORN STARCH
-
Is Salt safe in this meat product?
Medium
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor but can contribute to sodium intake concerns, especially in processed meats.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: SALT
-
Is Sodium Phosphate safe in this meat product?
Bad
Sodium Phosphate is used here as preservative. Sodium phosphate is a synthetic additive used for moisture retention, raising concerns about processed ingredients.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: SODIUM PHOSPHATE
-
Is Sodium Erythorbate safe in this meat product?
Bad
Sodium Erythorbate is used here as preservative. Sodium erythorbate is a synthetic preservative that helps maintain color and freshness but raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: SODIUM ERYTHORBATE
-
Is Sodium Nitrite safe in this meat product?
Bad
Sodium Nitrite is used here as preservative. Sodium nitrite is used for color retention and preservation but is associated with health concerns in processed meats.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: SODIUM NITRITE
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: 3210796
More from this brand: Hy-Vee products in Zerotox
Similar products: meat_product in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.