Is Trader Joe's EVERYTHING but the ELOTE SEASONING BLEND ultra-processed?

2.3 oz Peppers Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring

17 ingredients
2 additives

Less processed peppers

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

cane sugar (processing marker), sea salt (processing marker), corn flour, chile pepper, parmesan cheese (processing marker) (milk, salt (processing marker), cheese cultures, enzymes, disodium phosphate), chipotle, natural flavor (ultra-processing marker), citric acid (acidulant), cilantro, rice fiber, cumin

Additives: E330 Citric acid , E339ii Disodium phosphate

As written on the pack

CANE SUGAR, SEA SALT, CORN FLOUR, CHILE PEPPER, PARMESAN CHEESE (MILK, SALT, CHEESE CULTURES, ENZYMES, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE), CHIPOTLE POWDER, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID (ACIDULANT), DRIED CILANTRO, ORGANIC RICE FIBER, CUMIN POWDER. CONTAINS MILK.

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.

Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

3 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.
Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 32 peppers

From least to most processed, this one ranks 31st. 13% of the peppers 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 32 peppers, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 00668040, last edited 11 April 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.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.