Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream
Summary
Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream scores 5/100. A NOVA 4 ultra-processed potato chip with a staggering ingredient list for what should be a simple snack. Potatoes fried in a quad seed oil blend (canola, corn, soybean, and/or sunflower oil), topped with a seasoning system containing maltodextrin, MSG, natural and artificial flavors, two artificial dyes (Yellow 6, Yellow 5), whey protein concentrate, buttermilk, sour cream, multiple cheese powders, sodium caseinate, yeast extract (hidden MSG), and lactic acid. The ingredient list reads like a chemistry experiment. Owned by Frito-Lay/PepsiCo.
At a glance
Key ingredients 10
PotatoesNeutral
Whole food base ingredient, but deep-fried and heavily processed into chip form.
See more about Potatoes →Vegetable Oil (Canola, Corn, Soybean, and/or Sunflower Oil)Very Bad
Quad seed oil blend — all four are high in omega-6 fatty acids promoting inflammation. Highly refined, chemically extracted.
See more about Vegetable Oil (Canola, Corn, Soybean, and/or Sunflower Oil) →Maltodextrin (Made from Corn)Very Bad
High-glycemic filler (GI 85-105). Cheap carrier for the seasoning system.
See more about Maltodextrin (Made from Corn) →Monosodium GlutamateBad
Excitotoxic flavor enhancer that overstimulates taste receptors.
See more about Monosodium Glutamate →Natural and Artificial FlavorsBad
Zero transparency. Includes explicit artificial flavors — synthetic chemical compounds.
See more about Natural and Artificial Flavors →Yellow 6Very Bad
Petroleum-derived artificial dye linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions. Requires warning labels in the EU.
See more about Yellow 6 →Yellow 5Very Bad
Petroleum-derived artificial dye (Tartrazine) linked to hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and potential carcinogenicity.
See more about Yellow 5 →Sodium CaseinateBad
Heavily processed milk protein derivative. Industrial-grade ingredient used as a flavor carrier.
See more about Sodium Caseinate →Yeast ExtractBad
Processed flavor enhancer — essentially hidden MSG. Contains free glutamates that function identically to monosodium glutamate.
See more about Yeast Extract →Whey Protein ConcentrateNeutral
Complete protein, but used here as a flavor/texture agent in trace amounts, not for nutritional benefit.
See more about Whey Protein Concentrate →Processing
Ultra-Processed Foods
Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
Scan any product to see lab results, healthy alternatives, and your personalized analysis.
Download on theApp Store