Is Meatless Balls Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Tesco
Meatless Balls is a food 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 Methylcellulose.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes rehydrated soy protein and a mix of plant proteins, but also contains methylcellulose and natural flavors, raising concerns about processing and additives.
Main concern
Methylcellulose is a synthetic thickener, raising concerns about processed ingredients.
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 rehydrated soy protein, providing a plant-based protein source.
- Includes a mix of plant proteins, enhancing nutritional diversity.
- Natural flavors derived from soy and wheat contribute to taste.
- Vitamin B12 is included, supporting dietary needs for this nutrient.
Concerns
- Methylcellulose is a synthetic thickener, raising concerns about processed ingredients.
- Natural flavors may contain undisclosed components, affecting transparency.
- Wheat gluten presence may pose issues for gluten-sensitive individuals.
- High processing level indicated by multiple additives and thickeners.
Who should avoid this product?
This food may not be the best fit for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
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 Rehydrated Soy Protein safe in this food?
Good
Rehydrated Soy Protein is used here as base. Rehydrated soy protein serves as the primary protein source in this product, offering a plant-based alternative to meat. Its quality is generally high, contributing positively to the overall composition.
Role in formula: base
Original: Rehydratovaná sójová bílkovina
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Is Rehydrated Plant Protein Mix safe in this food?
Good
Rehydrated Plant Protein Mix is used here as base. This mix includes wheat and pea proteins, enhancing the protein profile. The use of plant proteins is beneficial for those seeking meat alternatives.
Role in formula: base
Original: směs rehydratovaných rostlinných bílkovin (pšeničná a hrachová)
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Is Rehydrated Wheat Starch safe in this food?
Medium
Rehydrated Wheat Starch is used here as thickener. Used as a thickening agent, rehydrated wheat starch can improve texture but is a processed ingredient that may raise concerns for some consumers.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: rehydratovaný pšeničný škrob
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Is Methylcellulose safe in this food?
Bad
Methylcellulose is used here as thickener. Methylcellulose is a synthetic thickener that helps maintain texture but raises concerns due to its artificial nature and potential health implications.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: zahušťovadlo (methylcelulosa)
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Is Natural Flavors safe in this food?
Medium
Natural Flavors is used here as flavor. Natural flavors derived from soy and wheat enhance taste but lack transparency regarding their specific components, which can be a concern for some consumers.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: přírodní aromata N. (sójové, pšeničné)
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Is Vitamin B12 safe in this food?
Good
Vitamin B12 is used here as nutrient. Vitamin B12 is essential for vegetarians and is included in this product, supporting dietary needs for this important nutrient.
Role in formula: nutrient
Original: vitamin B12 (kyanokobalamin)
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: 3945409
More from this brand: Tesco products in Zerotox
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: wheat
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.