Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla…
A highly processed, salty snack with flavor enhancers and artificial colors that offers little nutrition and is easy to overeat.
Ingredients (14)
Corn (Whole Corn, Processed with Lime)
Nixtamalized corn is a traditional, nutritious preparation, but in chips it is heavily processed and fried, which lowers its nutritional value and raises calorie density.
Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, and/or Sunflower Oil)
ControversialThese oils are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats and are repeatedly heated during frying. They are not inherently toxic, but they add a lot of calories, and heating can form oxidation byproducts.
Maltodextrin
ControversialThis cheap filler and flavor carrier is digested very quickly. Large intakes may affect blood sugar and gut microbiota.
Salt
Sodium is fine in moderation, but salty snacks are easy to overeat, so intake adds up quickly.
Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes)
Real cheese is a minor, fairly benign ingredient, but the amount is too small to add meaningful protein or calcium.
Whey
A dairy protein with no safety concerns for most people, but it is an allergen for those with milk allergy.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
E621 ControversialRegulators such as the FDA and EFSA consider MSG safe at normal intake levels. A small number of people report sensitivity, and it makes the chips hard to stop eating.
Artificial Color (Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1)
E129, E110, E102, E133 ControversialSome studies link certain dyes to hyperactivity in sensitive children, and the EU requires a warning label on foods containing them. They add no nutritional value and are purely cosmetic.
Lactose
It is a filler and flavor carrier that adds small amounts of sugar and can cause digestive discomfort for lactose-intolerant people.
Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate
E627, E631 ControversialThese nucleotide-based enhancers are generally recognized as safe, but they are not suitable for people with gout or purine sensitivity and add to the hyper-palatable profile.
Natural and Artificial Flavors
ControversialThe individual compounds are not disclosed. They are regulated as safe but make it impossible to know exactly what is in the product.
Spices (Onion, Garlic powder), Tomato Powder
These are common whole-food seasonings that are safe, though present in small quantities.
Citric Acid
E330A widely used, safe acidity regulator that adds tang.
Sugar
The amount is small, but it adds to the sweet-salty-savory combination that makes the chips hard to stop eating.
Healthier alternatives
Whole-grain or organic corn, short ingredient list, and no synthetic dyes or MSG.
Find on AmazonCooked in avocado oil with simple seasonings and no artificial colors.
Find on AmazonHigher in protein and fiber than corn chips, with a shorter ingredient list.
Find on AmazonA whole-grain snack with cheesy flavor, much lower in calories and free of artificial additives.
Find on AmazonDoritos were invented at Disneyland in the early 1960s, when Frito-Lay made chips from leftover tortillas at a Casa de Fritos restaurant. The Nacho Cheese flavor was introduced in 1972 and became the brand's best seller.