Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme

Common questions

Is Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme healthy?

Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme scores 25/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme tested at 13.70 ppb glyphosate in Moms Across America's 2024 fast-food investigation — a low residue for chain-restaurant food.

Has Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme been lab-tested?

Yes. Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme 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 Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme?

Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

How does Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme compare to other restaurant items?

Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme ranks #8 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 Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Beef, Chili pepper, Spices count in its favor; Bleached enriched wheat flour, Vegetable Shortening, Sugar 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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Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme

Taco Bell
Lab tested
25 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 9
Harmful ingredients 20
Owned by Yum! Brands
Category Restaurant Items
Summary

Taco Bell Beef Taco Supreme tested at 13.70 ppb glyphosate in Moms Across America's 2024 fast-food investigation — a low 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 sources: conventional corn/wheat in the shell or tortilla plus seed oils from glyphosate-treated crops.

Contaminants 1

Source: Independent third-party laboratory testing

Glyphosate
13.70 ppb
Moderate

A moderate level of glyphosate — elevated enough to be a real sourcing concern; cleaner-tested options exist.

Tested at 13.70 ppb glyphosate residue — low for a chain-restaurant prepared food.

Key ingredients 34

Vegetable Shortening
Very Bad

Contains: interesterified soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil. Industrially restructured fat; emerging concerns for lipid metabolism and inflammation.

See more about Vegetable Shortening →
Bleached enriched wheat flour
Bad

Refined flour stripped of bran and germ.

Sugar
Bad

Added refined sugar.

See more about Sugar →
Mono and diglycerides
Bad

Emulsifier; may carry trans-fat residue from production.

See more about Mono and diglycerides →
Calcium propionate
Bad

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

See more about Calcium propionate →
Sorbic acid
Bad
Potassium sorbate
Bad

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

See more about Potassium sorbate →
Maltodextrin
Bad

Processed corn-derived sugar that spikes blood glucose.

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Caramel color
Bad

Class III/IV caramel color contains 4-MEI, a possible carcinogen.

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Soy lecithin
Bad

Soy-derived emulsifier — a refined, industrially processed additive tied to seed-oil production. Not a seed oil itself, but Scout classifies lecithin emulsifiers as bad.

See more about Soy lecithin →
Natural flavors
Bad

Undisclosed flavor compounds; can include solvent carriers and GMOs.

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Yeast extract
Bad

Free-glutamate flavor enhancer (functions like MSG).

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Disodium inosinate
Bad

Glutamate-amplifying flavor enhancer paired with MSG.

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Disodium guanylate
Bad

Glutamate-amplifying flavor enhancer paired with MSG.

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Modified corn starch
Bad

Chemically modified starch.

See more about Modified corn starch →
Sodium phosphate
Bad

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

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Modified food starch
Bad

Chemically modified starch.

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Carrageenan
Bad

Seaweed-derived thickener with intestinal-inflammation signals (animal studies).

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Powdered cellulose
Bad

Wood-pulp-derived anti-caking fiber.

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Natamycin
Bad

Antifungal preservative used on shredded cheese.

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Water
Neutral
Salt
Neutral

Sodium contributor; tolerable in moderation.

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Cellulose gum
Neutral

Plant-derived thickener and stabilizer — inert at typical use levels.

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Locust bean gum
Neutral

Plant- or fermentation-derived thickener / mild acidulant.

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Annatto
Neutral

Natural color from achiote seed.

See more about Annatto →
Beef
Good

Whole muscle meat.

See more about Beef →
Chili pepper
Good

Whole spice / herb / pepper.

Spices
Good

Whole spice / herb / pepper.

See more about Spices →
Tomato powder
Good

Whole-grain, seed, or fresh produce ingredient.

See more about Tomato powder →
Cultured pasteurized milk and cream
Good
Shredded cheddar
Good

Real-cheese / dairy ingredient.

Cheese culture
Good
Shredded lettuce
Good

Fresh whole vegetable; fiber and micronutrients.

Diced tomatoes
Good

Fresh tomato; lycopene and vitamin C.

See more about Diced tomatoes →

Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

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