12 Unhealthiest Store-Bought Tortilla Chips

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Let's face it — it's hard to pass up a good store-bought tortilla chip. Crispy, crunchy, and salty ... what's not to love? Still, not every tortilla chip is the same. There are some that sport more additives than others, complete with artificial colors and strange-sounding ingredients. In this post, we're cracking open the details on which tortilla chips contain concerning ingredients, along with information on why these ingredients are so concerning in the first place. Please note that because most tortilla chips have been fried in oil, the vast majority of them will contain a good amount of fat, calories, and salt. We get that. The point of this post, however, is to uncover what hides beneath by exposing some of those lesser-known ingredients that often make it into your chip bag so you can make a more informed decision about which tortilla chips will be granted the golden opportunity to make it into your tummy. 

From popular brands to generic store grabs, we're ready to dish on some of the unhealthiest store-bought tortilla chips we could find on the market. Ready to take a peek at what lurks within? Stick with us.

Love Doritos? We feel you. Doritos have that one-of-a-kind flavor that is often imitated but never quite duplicated in terms of its intoxicating flavor. And while you may love munching on these original flavored tortilla chips, they aren't the best for your health in terms of ingredients added.

Taking Doritos Cool Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips as an example, expect to find Blue No. 1, known for allergic reactions in some people according to the Center For Science in the Public Interest, and Red No. 40 covering your chips (along with other colors). You'll also get a dose of monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin, and artificial flavoring. Dextrose, which often has an impact on people in much the same fashion as other types of sugar, runs the risk of unnecessary weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease. It's also been thought to make anxiety and depression symptoms experienced by certain individuals worse, meaning dextrose could potentially have a gnarly effect on mental health for some, according to WebMD. There are other ingredients in Cool Ranch Doritos we aren't too fond of as well, like sodium acetate, and for that reason, we're designating these chips as some of the unhealthiest tortilla chips out there.

Great Value Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips might be a great deal at $2.24 per bag, but it isn't so great in terms of health. Despite being advertised as "naturally flavored," these tortilla chips contain other ingredients that still cause us concern, even if the flavoring is presumably natural.

First and foremost, Great Value Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips contain artificial colors, which we've already confirmed is less than ideal when it comes to certain health ailments like cancer and behavior-related issues in children. Beyond that, this bag of chips also contains maltodextrin as well as monosodium glutamate, often referred to as MSG, which may trigger headaches and a fluttering heartbeat in sensitive individuals.

Not concerning enough? Disodium guanylate, also found in Great Value Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips, functions much like MSG and, thus, may cause similar reactions in people who are sensitive to MSG. Not only this, but disodium guanylate adds to sodium levels in whatever it graces, and as a result, those with kidney stones or people who are looking to lower their sodium intake should be very leery of this ingredient, according to Healthline. Overall, this bag of Great Value tortilla chips might be cheap, but it also isn't going to be the healthiest grab out there.

‌Similar to the nacho cheese variety, these Great Value Glacier Ranch Tortilla Chips, also produced by Walmart, contain many of the ingredients we've warned you about thus far. Monosodium glutamate, artificial colors, and disodium guanylate can be found here, and you'll also see dextrose making an appearance which, as we've said before, is linked to an increased risk for certain ailments including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Unfortunately, these aren't the only additives to think twice about when stuffing your face full of these albeit delicious tortilla chips from Walmart. Great Value Glacier Ranch Tortilla Chips also feature an additive known as titanium dioxide. According to the Center For Science in Public Interest, titanium dioxide can accumulate in the body over time, increasing the risk for cancer and even causing genetic damage to the nervous system or the immune system. Because of this, many concerns have been raised over the use of this additive, especially given that it often falls under the umbrella of "artificial color" on food labels rather than being listed by itself.

Phew! After all of those risks, we'd have to confirm that Great Value Glacier Ranch Tortilla Chips probably aren't the greatest for long-term consumption.

‌If you haven't guessed by now, anything with an electric blue hue isn't exactly going to earn bonus points for being healthy, especially when it comes to tortilla chips. Granted, we know there's such a thing as a blue corn tortilla chip, and we're all for those, but when it comes to Takis Rolled Blue Heat Tortilla Chips, that blue color isn't exactly "all natural."

Let's back up a bit. Takis Rolled Tortilla Chips contain all sorts of additives, many of which just sound bad from the start. TBHQ, for instance, sounds like a bunch of letters just thrown together, and definitely isn't a staple in the common kitchen pantry. With that said, TBHQ works as an antioxidant that keeps food fresher for longer. The problem is that this compound is of the artificial sort and comes with certain risks you ought to know about. According to MedicineNet, an increased risk of cancer, food allergies, and more have been associated with this additive, and unfortunately, we see it sitting pretty right next to a slew of other additives in the Takis Rolled Blue Heat Tortilla Chips ingredient list.

Other offenders include Blue No. 1, maltodextrin, disodium guanylate, and more. Not sure about you, but this isn't something most of us would constitute as a healthy tortilla chip.

Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Tortilla Chips definitely sound delish, but how do they stack up healthwise? Not very well, we're afraid. Like so many of the other unhealthy tortilla chips on the list, the main offender here is the additives contained in each crispy, crunchy chip you encounter. Ingredients like caramel coloring, sodium diacetate, monosodium glutamate, and more have the potential to lead to unsavory outcomes, especially when they are consumed in large amounts over long periods of time.

To be specific, caramel coloring is said to have caused cancer in both male and female lab mice when produced with ammonia, according to Consumer Reports. Sodium diacetate is another additive found in Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Tortilla Chips, which works to give the chips a tangy vinegar-esque flavor. The problem is that this same additive can sometimes be used as a pesticide in non-food instances and may cause a variety of ill effects to certain individuals,  including allergic reactions and issues with digestion, when it is consumed in excess. Though this is a tasty tortilla chip, it certainly isn't one we feel comfortable designating as a healthy snack.

‌Sabritas Turbos Flamas can be found at Target and are essentially a twisted version of tortilla chips that are sprinkled with plenty of, ahem, "spices" to get your tastebuds in a tizzy. ‌Sabritas Turbos Flamas makes the naughty list of unhealthiest tortilla chips because, as you likely know by now, they contain an excessive number of additives, many of which may prove risky to your long-term overall health. The bright red hue of these chips is the first clue that things aren't quite right, as red and yellow artificial colors are clearly observed on the ingredients list. In addition, expect to get a dose of many of the additives discussed earlier in the post including maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate, sodium diacetate, disodium guanylate, and more.

No, these were never meant to be a "healthy" treat, and yes, it is perfectly plausible to expect you might grab these for a snack every now and again. But as with anything highly processed, Sabritas Turbos Flamas should be consumed in moderation to avoid the negative outcomes often associated with additives like the ones found in these tortilla chips. Now you know!