Is Pepperoni Pizza Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Dunnes Stores
This page reviews Pepperoni Pizza by Dunnes Stores as a food. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The composition includes sodium nitrite as a preservative and paprika extract as a colorant, indicating processed elements that raise quality concerns. The presence of sugar and dextrose also suggests added sweeteners.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium nitrite as a preservative and paprika extract as a colorant, indicating processed elements that raise quality concerns. The presence of sugar and dextrose also suggests added sweeteners.
Main concern
Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns due to potential health risks associated with processed meats.
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
- Mozzarella cheese provides a source of calcium and protein, contributing positively to the overall composition.
- Tomato purée is a natural ingredient that adds flavor and nutrients, enhancing the product's quality.
Concerns
- Sodium nitrite is a synthetic preservative that raises safety concerns due to potential health risks associated with processed meats.
- The inclusion of sugar and dextrose indicates added sweeteners, which may not align with health-conscious choices.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this food and why it matters.
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Is Wheat Flour safe in this food?
Good
Wheat Flour is used here as base. Wheat flour serves as the primary base for the pizza crust, providing structure and texture. It is a staple ingredient in many baked goods.
Role in formula: base
Original: Wheat Flour
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Is Mozzarella Cheese safe in this food?
Good
Mozzarella Cheese is used here as base. Mozzarella cheese adds creaminess and flavor, contributing beneficial nutrients like calcium and protein to the pizza.
Role in formula: base
Original: Mozzarella Cheese (15%) [Milk, Salt, Microbial Rennet, Lactic Starter Culture]
-
Is Tomato Puree safe in this food?
Good
Tomato Puree is used here as base. Tomato purée enhances flavor and provides vitamins, particularly vitamin C, which supports the overall nutritional profile of the pizza.
Role in formula: base
Original: Tomato Purée (15%)
-
Is Water safe in this food?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water is essential for dough formation and hydration, playing a crucial role in the texture of the pizza crust.
Role in formula: base
Original: Water
-
Is Smoke Flavour Pepperoni safe in this food?
Medium
Smoke Flavour Pepperoni is used here as flavor. Smoke flavour pepperoni adds a distinct taste to the pizza but contains sodium nitrite, raising concerns about synthetic preservatives in processed meats.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Smoke Flavour Pepperoni (11%) [Pork, Pork Fat, Salt, Dextrose, Spices (Cayenne Powder, Garlic, Chilli, Paprika), Pepper Extract, Colour: Paprika Extract; Antioxidant: Extracts of Rosemary, Sodium Ascorbate; Smoke Flavouring, Preservative: Sodium Nitrite]
-
Is Sunflower Oil safe in this food?
Medium
Sunflower Oil is used here as base. Sunflower oil is used for moisture and texture but is a refined oil, which may raise concerns about processing and quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: Sunflower Oil
-
Is Sugar safe in this food?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is added for flavor enhancement but contributes to the overall sweetness, which may not be suitable for all dietary preferences.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Sugar
-
Is Yeast safe in this food?
Good
Yeast is used here as base. Yeast is essential for fermentation, helping the dough rise and contributing to the texture of the pizza crust.
Role in formula: base
Original: Yeast
-
Is Dextrose safe in this food?
Medium
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a simple sugar that can enhance flavor but may not align with health-conscious choices due to its sweetness.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Dextrose
-
Is Salt safe in this food?
Good
Salt is used here as base. Salt is necessary for flavor enhancement and plays a role in the fermentation process of the dough.
Role in formula: base
Original: Salt
-
Is Maize Starch safe in this food?
Medium
Maize Starch is used here as thickener. Maize starch is used as a thickening agent, which can improve texture but may raise concerns about processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Maize Starch
-
Is Ground Black Pepper safe in this food?
Good
Ground Black Pepper is used here as flavor. Ground black pepper adds a spicy flavor to the pizza, enhancing its overall taste profile.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Ground Black Pepper
-
Is Garlic Powder safe in this food?
Good
Garlic Powder is used here as flavor. Garlic powder contributes a robust flavor and potential health benefits, enhancing the overall taste of the pizza.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Garlic Powder
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: 3965621
More from this brand: Dunnes Stores products in Zerotox
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: gluten
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.