Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich

Common questions

Is Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich healthy?

Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich scores 22/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich tested at 124.26 ppb glyphosate in Moms Across America's 2024 fast-food investigation — a high residue for chain-restaurant food.

Has Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich been lab-tested?

Yes. Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich carries an independent laboratory panel from Independent third-party laboratory testing covering 1 contaminant (including Glyphosate) — the full results are on this page.

How processed is Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich?

Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

How does Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich compare to other restaurant items?

Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich ranks #15 of 23 restaurant items in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is In-N-Out Cheeseburger at 35/100.

Which ingredients drive Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Roast beef, Cheddar cheese, Paprika count in its favor; Sodium phosphate, Canola oil, Modified corn starch are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich

Arby's
Lab tested
22 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 6
Harmful ingredients 18
Owned by Inspire Brands
Category Restaurant Items
Summary

Arby's Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich tested at 124.26 ppb glyphosate in Moms Across America's 2024 fast-food investigation — a high residue for chain-restaurant food. Glyphosate (Roundup's active ingredient) is a WHO IARC Group 2A probable human carcinogen linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, endocrine disruption, kidney and liver impairment, and microbiome disturbance. Likely source: conventional wheat desiccated with pre-harvest glyphosate spray, a routine U.S. commodity practice that leaves residue in the kernel.

Contaminants 1

Source: Independent third-party laboratory testing

Glyphosate
124.26 ppb
Moderate

Detected at a moderate level — a meaningful fraction of health-based exposure limits. Worth factoring in if this product is used regularly. Glyphosate is classified by the WHO IARC as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A) and is linked in observational research to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, endocrine disruption, and microbiome disturbance. Entry route is most likely pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation of the wheat or grain ingredient.

Tested at 124.26 ppb glyphosate residue — high for a chain-restaurant prepared food.

Key ingredients 27

Canola oil
Very Bad

Industrial seed oil; solvent-extracted with high omega-6 content.

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High fructose corn syrup
Very Bad

Industrial sweetener linked to metabolic dysfunction and fatty liver.

See more about High fructose corn syrup →
Soybean oil
Very Bad

Industrial seed oil; high in linoleic acid (omega-6) and solvent-extracted.

See more about Soybean oil →
Sodium phosphate
Bad

Phosphate additive; high cumulative phosphate intake linked to vascular and renal stress.

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Modified corn starch
Bad

Chemically modified starch.

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Maltodextrin
Bad

Processed corn-derived sugar that spikes blood glucose.

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Mono and diglycerides
Bad

Emulsifier; may carry trans-fat residue from production.

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Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Bad

Synthetic dough conditioner / emulsifier.

See more about Sodium stearoyl lactylate →
Autolyzed yeast extract
Bad

Free-glutamate flavor enhancer (functions like MSG).

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Sodium hexametaphosphate
Bad

Phosphate additive; high cumulative phosphate intake linked to vascular and renal stress.

See more about Sodium hexametaphosphate →
Natural flavor
Bad

Undisclosed flavor compounds; can include solvent carriers and GMOs.

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Corn syrup
Bad

Refined sweetener / processed sugar.

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Modified food starch
Bad

Chemically modified starch.

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Sodium benzoate
Bad

Preservative; can form benzene with vitamin C.

See more about Sodium benzoate →
Potassium sorbate
Bad

Preservative; signals of gut-microbiome and DNA-damage concerns.

See more about Potassium sorbate →
Onion roll (enriched wheat flour, water, sugar, yeast)
Bad

Refined flour stripped of bran and germ.

DATEM
Bad

Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides; emulsifier with possible trans-fat residue.

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Calcium propionate
Bad

Mold-inhibiting preservative; behavioral concerns in some pediatric studies.

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Water
Neutral
Annatto
Neutral

Natural color from achiote seed.

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Red Ranch sauce
Neutral

Common food ingredient.

Roast beef
Good

Whole muscle meat.

Cheddar cheese
Good

Real-cheese / dairy ingredient.

See more about Cheddar cheese →
Paprika
Good

Whole spice / herb / pepper.

See more about Paprika →
Tomato puree
Good

Whole-grain, seed, or fresh produce ingredient.

See more about Tomato puree →
Dehydrated onion
Good

Whole spice / herb / pepper.

See more about Dehydrated onion →
Poppy seeds
Good

Beneficial ingredient — whole-food or functional value in this product class.

See more about Poppy seeds →

Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

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