Fuego

Name: Fuego
Brand: Takis

0Avoid

Breakdown

Ultra-processed · 7 contaminants flagged · 15 ingredients to avoid

100

Lab-measured contaminants

Measured against published safety limits

−100

glycidyl esters−44

3-mcpd−20

di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dehp)−12

acrylamide−10

lead−6

2 smaller deductions−8

Ingredients

−85

vegetable oil−9

palm oil−9

soybean oil−9

canola oil−9

corn oil−9

12 more deductions−40

Processing

−10

NOVA 4: ultra-processed−10

Packaging

−5

Packaging−5

Adjustments

What it takes to land on the final number

+100

Minimum score+100

Final score0

Contaminants · 8

4 at/over limit

Measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Glycidyl Esters122 ppbof 6 ppb

Over the limit — 20×EU maximum level, Commission Reg. (EU) 2023/915 Annex I (point 5.3.3.2, carried over from Reg. (EU) 2020/1322) — glycidyl fatty acid esters expressed as glycidol, 6.0 ug/kg in liquid infant formula, follow-on formula and FSMP. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published GE number. Looser EU levels not adopted: powdered infant formula 50 ug/kg; vegetable oils and fats placed on the market for the final consumer 1,000 ug/kg (500 ug/kg when destined for baby food).

3-mcpd160 ppbof 12 ppb

Over the limit — 13×EU maximum level, Commission Reg. (EU) 2023/915 Annex I as amended by Reg. (EU) 2024/1003 (point 5.3.3.2) — sum of 3-MCPD and 3-MCPD fatty acid esters expressed as 3-MCPD, 12 ug/kg in liquid infant formula, follow-on formula and FSMP (cut from 15). Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published 3-MCPD number. Looser EU levels not adopted: powdered infant formula 80 ug/kg; free 3-MCPD in hydrolysed vegetable protein and soy sauce 20 ug/kg; vegetable oils and fats for the final consumer 1,250 ug/kg.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)16 ppbof 6 ppb

Over the limit — 2.7×US EPA drinking-water MCL, 40 CFR 141.61(c) — 0.006 mg/L. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published DEHP number; the EU food-contact limit is looser (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442: SML 0.6 mg/kg, plus the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit with DBP/BBP/DIBP).

Acrylamide71 ppbof 40 ppb

Over the limit — 1.8×EU benchmark level, Commission Reg. (EU) 2017/2158 Annex IV — 40 ug/kg for baby foods and processed cereal-based foods for infants and young children (other than biscuits and rusks), the tightest benchmark in the regulation. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published acrylamide number. EU benchmarks are mitigation-performance indicators, not legal maximum levels; looser category benchmarks not adopted include potato crisps 750, crackers 400, biscuits and wafers 350, breakfast cereals 150-300, roast coffee 400 ug/kg. No FDA or EPA food concentration limit exists.

Lead4.02 ppbof 5 ppb

80% of the limitFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Cadmium3.72 ppbof 5 ppb

74% of the limitFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Arsenic3.79 ppbof 10 ppb

38% of the limitFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.010 mg/L (= EPA MCL)

MercuryNDof 2 ppb

Not detectedFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.002 mg/L

Ingredients · 27

GoodCautionAvoid

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Nutrition facts

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Calories	571.43 kcal	160 kcal
Fat	42.86 g	12 g
Saturated fat	12.5 g	3.5 g
Carbohydrates	50 g	14 g
Sugars	3.57 g	1 g
Fiber	3.57 g	1 g
Protein	3.57 g	1 g
Sodium	0.71 g	0.2 g

Browse Chips & Crisps

Common questions

Is Takis Fuego healthy?

Takis Fuego scores 0/100 on Tallow — our avoid band. That number comes from what is on the label: the ingredients, how processed it is, and what it is packaged in. Per serving it carries 1g fiber, 1g protein and 1g sugar. It is not a verdict on your diet — Tallow does not weigh calories, portion size or how often you eat it, so a high score means the ingredients are clean, not that the food is unlimited.

What is in Takis Fuego?

Takis Fuego lists 27 ingredients, starting with Corn Meal, Vegetable Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil and Canola Oil. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first few make up most of what you are eating.

How many calories are in Takis Fuego?

160 kcal per serving, or 571 kcal per 100g. Calories are only part of the picture — Tallow scores Takis Fuego on what the ingredients are, not how many calories they carry.

Does Takis Fuego contain seed oils?

Yes. Takis Fuego lists Vegetable Oil, Soybean Oil, Canola Oil and Corn Oil in its ingredients.

How processed is Takis Fuego?

Takis Fuego is NOVA group 4: ultra-processed. That is the top of the scale and the classification the score penalises most heavily.

How does Takis Fuego compare to other chips & crisps?

At 0/100 Takis Fuego scores worse than most chips & crisps we have scored. A higher-scoring option in chips & crisps is Late July Thin & Crispy Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips at 95/100.

Is Takis Fuego organic?

Takis Fuego is not certified organic in our data.

Has Takis Fuego been lab tested?

Yes. 8 substances in Takis Fuego have a laboratory result on file — see the Contaminants section above for each reading and the limit it was measured against.

Does Takis Fuego contain heavy metals?

Yes. A lab detected lead at 4.02 ppb against a 5 ppb limit, arsenic at 3.79 ppb against a 10 ppb limit and cadmium at 3.72 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Takis Fuego. Every reading is under its limit. It also tested for mercury and found none above its detection limit. Each reading is in the Contaminants section above.

Does Takis Fuego contain phthalates?

Yes. A lab detected DEHP at 16 ppb against a 6 ppb limit in Takis Fuego. Each reading is in the Contaminants section above.

Full methodology: how we score products.