Taco Bell Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla
Summary
Taco Bell Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla tested at 15.99 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.
At a glance
Contaminants 1
Source: Independent third-party laboratory testing
Glyphosate 15.99 ppb Moderate
A moderate level of glyphosate — elevated enough to be a real sourcing concern; cleaner-tested options exist.
Tested at 15.99 ppb glyphosate residue — low for a chain-restaurant prepared food.
Key ingredients 37
Bleached enriched wheat flourBad
Refined flour stripped of bran and germ.
WaterNeutral
Pure water.
See more about Water →Vegetable shortening (interesterified soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil)Very Bad
Industrially restructured fat; emerging concerns for lipid metabolism and inflammation.
SugarBad
Added refined sugar.
See more about Sugar →SaltNeutral
Sodium contributor; tolerable in moderation.
See more about Salt →Sodium acid pyrophosphateNeutral
Leavening or mineral salt.
See more about Sodium acid pyrophosphate →Sodium bicarbonateNeutral
Leavening or mineral salt.
See more about Sodium bicarbonate →MolassesNeutral
Less-refined cane sweetener.
See more about Molasses →Mono and diglyceridesBad
Emulsifier; may carry trans-fat residue from production.
See more about Mono and diglycerides →Cellulose gumBad
Synthetic fiber/thickener; gut-microbiome disruption signals.
See more about Cellulose gum →Calcium propionateBad
Mold-inhibiting preservative; behavioral concerns in some pediatric studies.
See more about Calcium propionate →Sorbic acidBad
Preservative.
See more about Sorbic acid →Potassium sorbateBad
Preservative; signals of gut-microbiome and DNA-damage concerns.
See more about Potassium sorbate →Chicken breastGood
Chicken breast meat (with seasoning carriers separately flagged).
Modified potato starchBad
Chemically modified starch.
Yeast extractBad
Free-glutamate flavor enhancer (functions like MSG).
See more about Yeast extract →Disodium inosinateBad
Glutamate-amplifying flavor enhancer paired with MSG.
Disodium guanylateBad
Glutamate-amplifying flavor enhancer paired with MSG.
MaltodextrinBad
Processed corn-derived sugar that spikes blood glucose.
See more about Maltodextrin →Soybean oilVery Bad
Industrial seed oil; high in linoleic acid (omega-6) and solvent-extracted.
See more about Soybean oil →Natural flavorsBad
Undisclosed flavor compounds; can include solvent carriers and GMOs.
See more about Natural flavors →Sodium phosphateBad
Phosphate additive; high cumulative phosphate intake linked to vascular and renal stress.
See more about Sodium phosphate →Three-cheese blendGood
Real-cheese / dairy ingredient.
Mozzarella cheeseGood
Real-cheese / dairy ingredient.
See more about Mozzarella cheese →Cheddar cheeseGood
Real-cheese / dairy ingredient.
See more about Cheddar cheese →Monterey Jack cheeseGood
Real-cheese ingredient.
Sodium citrateBad
Emulsifying salt typical of processed cheese.
See more about Sodium citrate →Lactic acidNeutral
Common food acid for pH balance.
See more about Lactic acid →AnnattoNeutral
Natural color from achiote seed.
See more about Annatto →Powdered celluloseBad
Wood-pulp-derived anti-caking fiber.
See more about Powdered cellulose →ButtermilkGood
Cultured dairy.
Egg yolkGood
Whole-food egg fraction.
See more about Egg yolk →Modified food starchBad
Chemically modified starch.
See more about Modified food starch →Xanthan gumNeutral
Plant- or fermentation-derived thickener / mild acidulant.
See more about Xanthan gum →Sodium benzoateBad
Preservative; can form benzene with vitamin C.
See more about Sodium benzoate →Propylene glycol alginateBad
Industrial humectant.
See more about Propylene glycol alginate →Calcium disodium EDTABad
Synthetic chelating preservative.
See more about Calcium disodium EDTA →Processing
Ultra-Processed Foods
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