Is Old El Paso Enchilada the Kit ultra-processed?

663g Meal kits Sold in the United Kingdom, European Union and France

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Dextrose
Glucose
Gluten
E422 Glycerol
E450 Diphosphates
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

45 ingredients
8 additives
Nutri-Score C

Less processed meal kits

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

Super Soft Corn 51%, Wheat Tortillas (processing marker) 51% (Corn flour 36%), wheat flour 29%, water, glycerol (ultra-processing marker), wheat gluten (ultra-processing marker), vegetable oils (processing marker) (rapeseed vegetable oils, sunflower vegetable oils), dextrose (ultra-processing marker), diphosphates (ultra-processing marker), sodium bicarbonate, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (ultra-processing marker), salt (processing marker), citric acid, Cooking Sauce 45% (Water), tomato paste 49%, citric acid, Seasoning Mix 4% (Breadcrumbs, wheat flour), water, yeast, spices 25% (chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper), salt (processing marker), wheat flour, onion powder, garlic powder, dextrose (ultra-processing marker), cane sugar (processing marker), tricalcium phosphate, spice extract (paprika), oregano, Tortillas (processing marker) (Reference intake of an average adult, 8, 2)

Additives: E330 Citric acid , E341 Calcium phosphates , E341iii Tricalcium phosphate , E422 Glycerol , E450 Diphosphates , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids , E500 Sodium carbonates , E500ii Sodium hydrogen carbonate

As written on the pack

Super Soft Corn and Wheat Tortillas (51%): Corn flour (36%), wheat flour (29%), water, stabiliser (glycerol), wheat gluten, vegetable oils (rapeseed, sunflower), dextrose, raising agents (diphosphates, sodium bicarbonate), emulsifier (mono - and diglycerides of fatty acids), salt, acidity regulator (citric acid). Cooking Sauce (45%): Water, tomato paste (49%), acidity regulator (citric acid). Seasoning Mix (4%): Breadcrumbs (wheat flour, water, yeast), spices (25%) (chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper), salt, wheat flour, onion powder, garlic powder, dextrose, cane sugar, anti-caking agent (tricalcium phosphate), spice extract (paprika), oregano. For allergens, see ingredients in bold. Tortillas: Packaged in a protective atmosphere. Reference intake of an average adult (8 400 kJ/ 2

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.

E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.

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.

Dextrose Dextrose is pure glucose crystallised from starch-derived syrup.
Glucose Glucose, usually listed as glucose syrup, is cheap, keeps products moist and stops sugar from crystallising.
Gluten Wheat gluten, sold as "vital wheat gluten", is the protein washed out of wheat flour.

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.

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.
Meal kits Products in the category "Meal kits" are at least group 3.
Bread An ingredient mostly produced industrially and rarely used in home kitchens.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 20 meal kits

From least to most processed, this one ranks 14th. 75% of the meal kits 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 20 meal kits, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 8410076471222, last edited 26 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.