Is Lemon Couscous Salad With Harissa Chicken And Tahini Dressing Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Simply Fresh
Lemon Couscous Salad With Harissa Chicken And Tahini Dressing is a food from Simply Fresh. 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.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several processed ingredients like disodium EDTA and sugar, which raise quality concerns. The presence of tahini and roasted vegetables adds some natural elements but is offset by synthetic additives.
Main concern
Contains disodium EDTA, a synthetic preservative that raises 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
- Contains tahini, a natural sesame paste that provides healthy fats and flavor.
- Includes roasted vegetables like corn and red bell pepper, contributing to flavor and nutrition.
- Features garbanzo beans, a good source of plant-based protein and fiber.
- Uses extra virgin olive oil, known for its health benefits and flavor enhancement.
Concerns
- Contains disodium EDTA, a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns.
- Includes sugar, which can contribute to excessive sweetness and health issues.
- Features xanthan gum, a thickener that may cause digestive issues for some individuals.
- Contains powdered cellulose, an anti-caking agent that is processed and raises quality concerns.
Who should avoid this product?
This food 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 food so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Cooked Couscous safe in this food?
Medium
Cooked Couscous is used here as base. Cooked couscous is a staple grain providing carbohydrates. However, it is processed from semolina, which may raise concerns for those sensitive to gluten.
Role in formula: base
Original: COUSCOUS (COOKED COUSCOUS [WATER, SEMOLINA (WHEAT), NIACIN, IRON (FERROUS SULFATE), THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID])
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Is Garbanzo Beans safe in this food?
Good
Garbanzo Beans is used here as base. Garbanzo beans are a nutritious legume providing protein and fiber. They are minimally processed, enhancing their health benefits.
Role in formula: base
Original: GARBANZO BEANS [COOKED DRIED CHICK PEAS, WATER, SALT, DISODIUM EDTA (TO PRESERVE COLOR)]
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Is Roasted Corn safe in this food?
Good
Roasted Corn is used here as base. Roasted corn adds natural sweetness and flavor, contributing positively to the overall nutritional profile of the dish.
Role in formula: base
Original: ROASTED CORN
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Is Roasted Red Bell Pepper safe in this food?
Good
Roasted Red Bell Pepper is used here as base. Roasted red bell pepper provides vitamins and antioxidants, enhancing the dish's flavor and nutritional value.
Role in formula: base
Original: ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER
Read the full ingredient profile for Roasted Red Bell Pepper
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Is Canola Oil safe in this food?
Medium
Canola Oil is used here as base. Canola oil is a common cooking oil that is refined and may contain trans fats, raising some health concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: CANOLA AND EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
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Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil safe in this food?
Good
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is used here as base. Extra virgin olive oil is a healthy fat known for its antioxidant properties and benefits for heart health.
Role in formula: base
Original: CANOLA AND EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
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Is Lemon Juice Concentrate safe in this food?
Medium
Lemon Juice Concentrate is used here as flavor. Lemon juice concentrate adds acidity and flavor but is processed, which may reduce some nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE
Read the full ingredient profile for Lemon Juice Concentrate
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Is Parsley safe in this food?
Good
Parsley is used here as natural_extract. Parsley is a fresh herb that adds flavor and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, enhancing the dish's health profile.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: PARSLEY
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Is Sugar safe in this food?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is added for sweetness but contributes to health concerns such as obesity and diabetes when consumed in excess.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SUGAR
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Is Dehydrated Garlic safe in this food?
Good
Dehydrated Garlic is used here as flavor. Dehydrated garlic provides flavor and potential health benefits, being a natural ingredient with antioxidant properties.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: DEHYDRATED GARLIC
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Is Sea Salt safe in this food?
Medium
Sea Salt is used here as flavor. Sea salt enhances flavor but should be consumed in moderation due to potential health risks associated with high sodium intake.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: SEA SALT
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Is Spice safe in this food?
Medium
Spice is used here as flavor. Spices add flavor complexity but are unspecified, making it difficult to assess their quality or potential allergens.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: SPICE
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Is Harissa Seasoned Grilled Chicken safe in this food?
Medium
Harissa Seasoned Grilled Chicken is used here as base. Harissa seasoned grilled chicken adds protein and flavor but contains processed ingredients like sodium and preservatives.
Role in formula: base
Original: HARISSA SEASONED GRILLED CHICKEN (CHICKEN [BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, WATER, TAPIOCA STARCH, VINEGAR, SALT, SOYBEAN OIL, SPICES, GARLIC, PAPRIKA, SALT, CITRIC ACID, SUMAC, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: TOMATO POWDER, NATURAL FLAVOR])
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Is Tomatoes safe in this food?
Good
Tomatoes is used here as base. Tomatoes are a nutritious fruit providing vitamins and antioxidants, contributing positively to the dish's health profile.
Role in formula: base
Original: TOMATOES
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Is Tahini safe in this food?
Good
Tahini is used here as base. Tahini is a natural sesame paste rich in healthy fats and protein, enhancing the dish's nutritional value.
Role in formula: base
Original: TAHINI DRESSING (WATER, TAHINI [SESAME PASTE])
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Is Red Wine Vinegar safe in this food?
Medium
Red Wine Vinegar is used here as acidulant. Red wine vinegar adds acidity and flavor but is processed, which may reduce some nutritional benefits.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: RED WINE VINEGAR
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Is Arugula safe in this food?
Good
Arugula is used here as base. Arugula is a leafy green that adds nutrients and flavor, contributing positively to the overall health profile of the dish.
Role in formula: base
Original: ARUGULA
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Is Feta Cheese safe in this food?
Medium
Feta Cheese is used here as base. Feta cheese adds flavor and creaminess but is a dairy product that may not be suitable for those with lactose intolerance.
Role in formula: base
Original: FETA CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, CHEESE CULTURES, ENZYMES, POWDERED CELLULOSE [TO PREVENT CAKING], NATAMYCIN [NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR])
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: 3469069
More from this brand: Simply Fresh products in Zerotox
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: wheat , sesame , milk
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.