Smoky Barbecue Crunch — ENGINEERED

Munch or Dump rates Smoky Barbecue Crunch by graze ENGINEERED — score 30/90.

A fried, coated corn-and-pea snack built for crunch and craving, with modified starch, refined oils and three separate sugar sources stacked under a BBQ seasoning blend.

Why this verdict

• Three separate sugars stacked: sugar, demerara sugar and smoked dextrose
• Fried corn plus a second fry in refined sunflower oil
• Modified corn starch and potato starch bulk out the formula
• Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) despite the 'packed with veg' framing
• Long 20+ ingredient seasoning-heavy list

Ingredients (20)

• Fried corn (moderate) — Whole corn but deep-fried in oil, turning a starch into a calorie-dense fried snack base.
• Green Peas (5.7%) (safe) — The one genuinely whole ingredient, supplying the protein and fibre the pack brags about.
• Corn Starch (moderate) — Refined starch used as a coating and binder; empty carbs.
• Modified Corn Starch (concerning) — Chemically altered starch, a hallmark of ultra-processed formulation.
• Sugar (moderate) — Added refined sugar; spikes blood sugar and turns a milky base into a dessert.
• Sunflower Oil (moderate) — Refined seed oil added for mouthfeel; contributes omega-6 and calories.
• YEAST EXTRACT (safe) — Concentrated deactivated yeast that supplies natural glutamates for the savory flavor plus B vitamins; a whole-ish food, not a synthetic additive.
• demerara sugar (moderate) — Added sugar for the sweet glaze; still sugar despite the 'natural' framing.
• natural flavouring (moderate) — Undefined flavour compound; 'natural' but unspecified, a minor processing marker.
• Salt (moderate) — Adds sodium; fine in moderation but the main reason to watch portion size.
• potato starch (moderate) — Refined starch used for coating texture; adds refined carbs.
• Smoked dextrose powder (moderate) — A third sugar (dextrose) doubling as smoke carrier.
• ONION POWDER (safe) — Common seasoning, minimal concern.
• GARLIC POWDER (safe) — Real seasoning.
• Smoked paprika powder (safe) — Natural spice for smoky color and flavor.
• citric acid (moderate) — Tartness and preservation, but the acidity erodes tooth enamel with regular exposure.
• Tomato Powder (safe) — Dehydrated tomato for savory flavor; harmless.
• chilli powder (safe) — Natural heat and flavor.
• Paprika Extract (Colour) (safe) — Natural pigment, not an artificial dye.
• Vegetable oils (canola, coconut) (moderate) — Additional refined oils in the seasoning carrier.