Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Frito Lay SunChips Fiber Southwestern Queso ultra-processed?

198.4g Flavoured corn crisps Sold in the United States

Pack of Frito Lay SunChips Fiber Southwestern Queso

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 32 ingredients
  • 1 additive
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed flavoured corn crisps

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Corn, Sunflower oil, Canola Oil, Black Beans, Brown Rice Flour, Black Beans, Salt, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey, Buttermilk, Garlic Powder, Spices (Chipotle Pepper), Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Yeast Extract, Tomato, Skim Milk, Gum Acacia, Sour Cream (Cream, Skim Milk, Cultures), Whey Protein, Paprika, Whole Wheat Flour, Sugar

Additives: E414 Acacia gum

As written on the pack

Whole Corn, Sunflower oil, Canola Oil, Black Beans, Brown Rice Flour, Dried Black Beans, Salt, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey, Buttermilk, Garlic Powder, Spices (Chipotle Pepper), Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Yeast Extract, Tomato Powder, Skim Milk, Gum Acacia, Sour Cream (Cream, Skim Milk, Cultures), Whey Protein Concentrate, Paprika, Whole Wheat Flour, Sugar.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E414 Acacia gum Gum arabic (acacia gum) is the hardened sap of acacia trees, used to stabilise flavour emulsions in soft drinks and to coat sweets.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
5 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Salty snacks Products in the category "Salty snacks" are at least group 3.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 21 flavoured corn crisps

From least to most processed, this one ranks 15th. 62% of the flavoured corn crisps here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 21 flavoured corn crisps, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0028400689656, last edited 5 August 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of C (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.