Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs, Vegan White Cheddar — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs, Vegan White Cheddar by Hippeas ENGINEERED — score 35/90.

Organic, vegan and gluten-free, and every one of those claims is true. But this is still an extruded puff built on refined rice flour, tapioca starch, sunflower oil and a touch of cane sugar, with the cheddar taste coming from an undisclosed flavor blend. The 4g of plant protein is real yet modest. A better cheese-puff swap, not a whole food.

Why this verdict

• Refined-starch base: rice flour plus tapioca starch
• Hyper-palatable puff formula: sunflower oil plus cane sugar plus refined starch
• NOVA 4 ultra-processed extruded snack
• Cheddar taste carried by undisclosed organic flavors

Ingredients (11)

• CHICKPEA FLOUR (safe) — Legume flour providing the plant protein and fiber.
• rice flour (moderate) — Another refined starch filler for crunch.
• Sunflower Oil (moderate) — Refined oil, present in a small amount.
• TAPIOCA STARCH (moderate) — Refined starch for stretch and chew; little nutrition.
• Cane Sugar (moderate) — Added sugar in the chocolate coating; the only sweetener.
• Organic flavors (moderate) — Undisclosed flavor system delivering the 'white cheddar' note without dairy.
• ONION POWDER (safe) — Spice.
• GARLIC POWDER (safe) — Standard whole-food seasoning.
• Rosemary Extract (safe) — Natural antioxidant used to keep the oils fresh instead of a synthetic preservative.
• citric acid (safe) — Naturally occurring acid used to regulate acidity and preserve color; harmless in this context.
• Salt (moderate) — Adds sodium; the only reason to watch portions if you are sodium-sensitive.

Healthier alternatives

• LesserEvil Organic Popcorn, Himalayan Pink Salt
• Plantain Chips
• Roasted Seaweed Snack with Sea Salt
• POPCORN HIMALAYAN PINK SALT
• Ridge Cut Potato Chips with Sea Salt