Chilli con Carne — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates Chilli con Carne by El Tequito ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

'Con carne' means 'with meat' — here that's 10% pork, held together with chicken egg white and skimmed milk powder like a lab-built meat impression. The body of this chili comes from a triple thickener system (modified starch + guar gum + wheat flour) plus added sugar. The 27% beans and real tomatoes are doing honest work; the rest is formulation.

Why this verdict

• Hyper-palatable pattern: added sugar + refined rapeseed oil + modified starch and wheat flour in one savoury can
• Only 10% 'seasoned pork' — and it's bound with chicken egg white and skimmed milk powder, the signature of restructured budget meat
• Triple thickener stack (modified starch, guar gum, wheat flour) manufactures the texture a long-simmered chili would earn naturally
• Added sugar in a savoury stew — there to round out an industrial flavour profile
• Credit where due: 27% red beans, real tomatoes, corn and onions keep this at ENGINEERED rather than DUMP

Ingredients (17)

• Red beans (27%) (safe) — Fiber and plant protein — the best thing in the can and the largest ingredient.
• Water (safe) — Used as a basic ingredient in bread.
• Tomatoes (safe) — Whole real food, the bulk of the can.
• Seasoned pork (10%) (moderate) — Small amount of pork, itself diluted with added water and salt.
• Tomato paste (safe) — Concentrated tomato — a real-food component of the sauce.
• Onions (safe) — Real vegetable.
• Corn (safe) — Whole sweet corn kernels; a real vegetable providing fiber and some vitamins.
• Paprika (safe) — Natural color and flavor from ground peppers.
• modified starch (concerning) — Industrial texturiser and a classic marker of ultra-processing.
• Salt (moderate) — Used in moderation, might exceed necessary amount.
• rapeseed oil (safe) — A source of healthy fats and often used in cooking.
• Spices (incl. celery, mustard) (safe) — Real seasoning, allergen-flagged.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
• Guar gum (thickener) (moderate) — Stabilizer/thickener used to fake a thicker sauce.
• wheat flour (moderate) — Thickening agent, not harmful but adds processing.
• Chicken egg white (moderate) — Protein binder; egg allergen.
• Skimmed Milk Powder (safe) — Milk solids in the fillings.