southern fried chicken
Unknown brand
Processing
4
Ultra-processed
Group 4 of 4 on the NOVA scale
Additives listed
12
0 we grade moderate or higher
8 of them not yet assessed here
Fat per 100g
6.80g
Medium
UK FSA front of pack threshold
Three separate readings, kept apart on purpose. This is not a score, and none of it says this product is harmful.
Additives (12)
This label lists 3 acidity regulators, 2 colours, 2 preservatives, 2 raising agents, 1 emulsifier and 1 flour treatment agent. 1 more we cannot place from the code alone.
E202
Potassium sorbate
Preservative
What it is. The potassium salt of sorbic acid, which stops mould and yeast growth.
Why it is used. Used in cheese, baked goods, dried fruit, wine and dressings.
What the evidence says. Widely used and long regarded as one of the gentler preservatives. EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation lowered the acceptable daily intake and noted gaps in the genotoxicity data, asking for more work, while finding no evidence of harm at the levels actually used.
Permitted with maximum levels. EFSA has asked for further data rather than restricted it.
Assessed against EFSA. Full entry for E202
E211
Sodium benzoate
Preservative
What it is. A preservative that stops yeasts, moulds and some bacteria growing in acidic foods.
Why it is used. Used in soft drinks, sauces, pickles and dressings.
What the evidence says. EFSA re-evaluated it in 2016 and kept an acceptable daily intake, with normal exposure below it. The known issue is specific: in acidic drinks that also contain vitamin C, benzoate can form small amounts of benzene, so manufacturers reformulated to avoid the combination. It was also present in the drink mixes used in the Southampton hyperactivity study, though the warning requirement that followed applies to the colours rather than to benzoate.
Permitted with maximum levels in the foods where it is allowed.
Assessed against EFSA, UK FSA. Full entry for E211
E471
Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids
Emulsifier
What it is. Fat derived emulsifiers, closely related to ordinary dietary fats.
Why it is used. One of the most used additives in food: bread, margarine, ice cream, cakes and sauces.
What the evidence says. The body handles these much as it handles other fats, and EFSA's re-evaluation raised no safety concern at the levels used. They sit in the same broad emulsifier and gut microbiome research question as the others, which remains unsettled.
Permitted without a numerical limit. The fat source is not always stated, which matters for some diets rather than for safety.
Assessed against EFSA. Full entry for E471
E100
Curcumin
Yellow colour
What it is. The yellow pigment from turmeric root.
Why it is used. Colours mustards, sauces, dairy, confectionery and savoury snacks.
What the evidence says. A plant pigment people have eaten as a spice for a very long time, and regulators treat it as safe with an acceptable daily intake. EFSA noted that children who eat a lot of the foods it is used in could approach that intake, which is a reason to watch total use rather than a sign of harm.
Permitted with maximum levels in the foods where it is allowed.
Assessed against EFSA, JECFA. Full entry for E100
Also on the label, not assessed here yet
- E1421 No entry in our register
- E150 Caramel colour
- E260 Acetic acid acidity regulator
- E296 Malic acid acidity regulator
- E331 Sodium citrates acidity regulator
- E450 Diphosphates raising agent
- E500 Sodium carbonates raising agent
- E920 L-cysteine flour treatment agent
Names and jobs come from the register of additives permitted in Great Britain, which we have not finished transcribing: a code shown without a name is a gap in our coverage, not a finding that it is unapproved. Naming one is not grading it either. Full detail appears only where we have an assessment against a named authority, so all of this describes our coverage rather than these additives. Most are common and low concern.
Ingredients
White Tortilla (46%) (Wheat Flour (Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Water, Vegetable Oil (Palm, Rapeseed), Sugar, Raising Agents (Disodium Diphosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Malic Acid), Salt, Emulsifier (Mono and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Flour Treatment Agent (L-Cysteine)), Southern Fried Chicken Goujon (30%) (Chicken Inner Fillet (60%), Water, Fully-Refined Soybean Oil, Tapioca Starch, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrates, Sodium Carbonate), Coating (Wheat Flour, Maize Flour, Wheat Starch, Tapioca Starch, Modified Tapioca Starch (Acetylated Starch), Wheat Gluten, Salt, Yeast Extract, Spices (White Pepper, Black Pepper, Garlic, Celery, Oregano, Paprika, Onion, Curcumin), Sugar, Raising Agents (Starch Sodium Octenylsuccinate, Sodium Carbonate), Yeast), Hickory BBQ Sauce (15%) (Malt Vinegar (Barley), Sugar, Tomato, Thickener (Modified Starch), Colour (Caramel), Worcestershire Sauce (Water, Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Molasses, Onion Puree, Salt, Tamarind Paste, Cloves, Ginger Puree, Garlic Puree), Flavouring, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Acetic Acid, Citric Acid) Spices, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate)), Lettuce (8%), Starch (1%) (Water, Starch)
As printed on the pack, in the producer's own order: ingredients are listed by weight, so what comes first is most of what is in it. E numbers link to their assessment where we have one.