Is Laurie's Kitchen Gluten Free Southwest Black Bean Chili Mix Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Laurie's Kitchen Gluten Free Southwest Black Bean Chili Mix is one of the food products analyzed by Zerotox. 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 Sugar, Caramel Color, Baker S Soy Free Gluten Hydrolyzed Natural Flavors affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The ingredient analysis reveals several processed components like maltodextrin and yeast extract, which raise quality concerns. The presence of brown sugar and caramel color also indicates a less clean composition.
Main concern
Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate that may raise concerns about its impact on blood sugar levels.
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 dehydrated black beans, a good source of plant-based protein and fiber.
- Includes bell pepper and onion, which add flavor and some nutritional value.
- Gluten-free formulation makes it suitable for those with gluten intolerance.
Concerns
- Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate that may raise concerns about its impact on blood sugar levels.
- Yeast extract is a flavor enhancer that can be high in sodium and may not be suitable for all diets.
- Brown sugar and added sugar contribute to a less favorable ingredient profile.
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.
-
Is Dehydrated Black Beans safe in this food?
Good
Dehydrated Black Beans is used here as base. Dehydrated black beans provide a source of plant-based protein and fiber, contributing positively to the nutritional profile.
Role in formula: base
Original: dehydrated black beans
-
Is Bell Pepper safe in this food?
Good
Bell Pepper is used here as base. Bell pepper adds flavor and contains vitamins, enhancing the overall nutritional value of the mix.
Role in formula: base
Original: bell pepper
-
Is Onion safe in this food?
Good
Onion is used here as base. Onion contributes flavor and contains antioxidants, which can be beneficial in a balanced diet.
Role in formula: base
Original: onion
-
Is Garlic safe in this food?
Good
Garlic is used here as base. Garlic is known for its flavor and potential health benefits, adding depth to the chili mix.
Role in formula: base
Original: garlic
-
Is Chili Pepper safe in this food?
Good
Chili Pepper is used here as flavor. Chili pepper enhances the spiciness of the mix, contributing to its flavor profile.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: chili pepper
-
Is Salt safe in this food?
Medium
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is used for flavor enhancement but can raise concerns regarding sodium intake.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this food?
Medium
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate that serves as a thickener but may impact blood sugar levels.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: maltodextrin
-
Is Yeast Extract safe in this food?
Medium
Yeast Extract is used here as flavor. Yeast extract is used for flavor enhancement but can be high in sodium and may not suit all diets.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: yeast extract (from yeast)
-
Is Brown Sugar safe in this food?
Medium
Brown Sugar is used here as sweetener. Brown sugar adds sweetness but contributes to a less favorable ingredient profile due to added sugars.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: brown sugar
-
Is Garlic Powder safe in this food?
Good
Garlic Powder is used here as flavor. Garlic powder enhances flavor and retains some of the beneficial properties of fresh garlic.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: garlic powder
-
Is Onion Powder safe in this food?
Good
Onion Powder is used here as flavor. Onion powder provides flavor and retains some nutritional benefits of fresh onion.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: onion powder
-
Is Sugar safe in this food?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Added sugar raises concerns about excessive sweetness and potential health impacts.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Beef Stock safe in this food?
Medium
Beef Stock is used here as flavor. Beef stock adds depth of flavor but may not be suitable for vegetarians or those avoiding animal products.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: beef stock
-
Is Caramel Color safe in this food?
Bad
Caramel Color is used here as colorant. Caramel color is an artificial colorant that raises concerns about synthetic additives in food.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: caramel color
-
Is Celery Seed safe in this food?
Good
Celery Seed is used here as flavor. Celery seed adds flavor and may have some health benefits, contributing positively to the mix.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: celery seed
-
Is Rice Flour safe in this food?
Medium
Rice Flour is used here as base. Rice flour serves as a thickening agent but is a processed ingredient with limited nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: base
Original: rice flour
-
Is Spices safe in this food?
Good
Spices is used here as flavor. Spices enhance flavor and may provide various health benefits, contributing positively to the mix.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: spices
-
Is Baker S Soy Free Gluten Hydrolyzed Natural Flavors safe in this food?
Bad
Baker S Soy Free Gluten Hydrolyzed Natural Flavors is used here as flavor. Hydrolyzed natural flavors can be highly processed and may raise concerns about ingredient transparency.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: baker's soy free gluten hydrolyzed natural flavors
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: 3434972
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.