Old El Paso
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Old El Paso, current as of September 2026. Screening averages and flag shares live in the short-answer band below. This hero only situates the catalog slice.
The short answer
Old El Paso averages 96.8/100 across the 132 of 212 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 10.6% of those contain at least one separately flagged ingredient. The figure summarizes Open Food Facts labels cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI; it does not establish recall status, allergy suitability, or the composition of products outside this snapshot.
- 96.8/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 132 scored products
- 212
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 10.6%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 89.8%
- of NOVA-classified products that are ultra-processed (Group 4)
Source snapshot current as of September 2026; open individual products before making a product-specific decision.
Portfolio reading
Use the distribution, then open the outliers
With 212 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Spicy Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Taco Shells; Cheese soft tortilla bowl; Bold and Soft Taco Dinner Kit; 10.6% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 96.8/100. Open those outliers first, then compare neighboring formulations. The aggregate does not establish recall status, allergen suitability, or the composition of an item outside this snapshot.
Catalog evidence
Ingredient-list coverage comes before the score
Only 132 of 212 tracked Old El Paso records (62.3%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 80 cannot be screened, so the 96.8/100 mean describes the labelled subset rather than the whole brand.
Next check: use the product rows below to verify the labelled subset, then compare the current package for any unscored item.
What the Data Says About Old El Paso
Old El Paso: 212 products tracked, 132 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 96.8/100, 10.6% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 62.3% of tracked records, this average is a description of the labelled subset, not a brand-wide tier. The coverage gap is the dominant limitation. Scoring methodology + dye-pledge context →
Among the 804 brands with 50+ products (the typical brand in that group flags 18% of its catalog), Old El Paso's 10.6% flagged share is 7.4 points below that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Old El Paso processing intensity
Old El Paso's NOVA-classified set is 128 products: 89.8% ultra-processed (Group 4, 115 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 115. That ultra-processed share sits 11.5 points above the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
Shelf mix
Where Old El Paso shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Old El Paso concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (32, 42% of this top-five); Condiments (21); Snacks (11); Frozen foods (7); Meals (5).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-based foods and beverages | 32 | 98.4/100 | 3.1% |
| Condiments | 21 | 100/100 | 0% |
| Snacks | 11 | 95.5/100 | 9.1% |
| Frozen foods | 7 | 97.1/100 | 14.3% |
| Meals | 5 | 98/100 | 20% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Old El Paso's 10.6% flagged share is measured across 132 scored products. The chart places that rate against the 50 brands with 50+ scored products in this snapshot, the same qualifying cohort used on the rankings page.
Old El Paso flagged share vs large-brand cohort
10.6% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
11% 0th percentile is at or above the flagged share of 0% of the 50 qualifying brands we track
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more qualifying brands. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Distribution as text
- 0%–10%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 10%–20%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 20%–30%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 30%–40%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 40%–50%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 50%–60%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 60%–70%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 70%–80%
- 3 qualifying brands (6%)
- 80%–90%
- 25 qualifying brands (50%)
- 90% and above
- 22 qualifying brands (44%)
Source Open Food Facts × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Portfolio shape
How scores cluster inside this brand
The brand average (96.8/100) summarizes 132 scored products. This distribution shows whether that mean sits on a tight cluster or a wide spread, a few low-scoring SKUs can matter even when the headline average looks strong.
Old El Paso product score distribution
Brand average 96.8/100 across 132 scored products
97 9th percentile sits above 9% of the 132 scored products we track
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more scored products. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Distribution as text
- 20–30
- 1 scored products (1%)
- 50–60
- 4 scored products (3%)
- 60–70
- 1 scored products (1%)
- 70–80
- 1 scored products (1%)
- 80–90
- 4 scored products (3%)
- 90–100
- 3 scored products (2%)
- 100 and above
- 118 scored products (89%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Old El Paso relies most on Red 40, an industry staple
Across the 132 Old El Paso products scored here, Red 40 appears in 6. It is used by 2,397 other brands in this database (6.8% of them), so its presence says more about the category than about this brand. A flag records that a named source raised a concern about an ingredient. It is not a finding that a product is unsafe to eat.
| Flagged ingredient | Old El Paso products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Red 40 | 6 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 6 | 5 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Caramel Coloring | 4 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Titanium Dioxide | 4 | Restricted: EU (banned); California (under review) |
| Blue 1 | 1 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Polysorbate 80 | 1 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| TBHQ | 1 | Preservative with a recorded concern |
| Yellow 5 | 1 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
Counts are products in this database whose ingredient list names the flagged ingredient. Flags come from FDA enforcement actions, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings and US state ingredient laws; see the methodology for how each source is applied.
Visible product sample
Label complexity does not determine the screening result
Each point is one of the 50 concern-sorted Old El Paso records shown below. Horizontal position is the number of resolved ingredients on that product's stored label; vertical position is its source-derived screening score. The dashed medians (29 ingredients and 100/100) divide this displayed sample only. A longer label is not automatically worse: open a specific product to inspect its flagged rows and source coverage.
- Shown records
- 50
- Median label
- 29 ingredients
- Median score
- 100/100
The outlined point is Spicy Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Taco Shells, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (3). Bubble size represents flagged ingredient count plus one, so zero-flagged products remain visible. The score is derived from FDA SAFFA and CSPI fields; this chart does not establish recall status, dietary suitability, or a health outcome.
Read the plotted values
- Spicy Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Taco Shells: 24 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Cheese soft tortilla bowl: 52 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Bold and Soft Taco Dinner Kit: 68 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Bold Nacho Cheese Flavored Taco Shells: 31 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Old el paso stand n stuff bold taco dnr kt nacho chs: 52 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Salsa Verde sauce: 34 resolved ingredients, 60/100, 2 flagged.
- Gordita: 69 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
- Old El Paso, Tortilla Stuffers: 36 resolved ingredients, 90/100, 2 flagged.
- Taco Shells, Nacho Cheese: 36 resolved ingredients, 75/100, 1 flagged.
- Creamy Queso Sauce: 31 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Zesty Ranch Sauce: 23 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Taco Shells: 5 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Beef Birria Ramen Noodles: 35 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Taco Bites - Chicken & Cheese: 56 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- 18 crunchy taco shells: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old el paso southwest pasta and sauce mix with black beans: 54 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Hamburger helper cheesy fajita: 45 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Fiesta Twists: 24 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old El Paso, Shredded Beef Enchiladas: 35 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old El Paso, Chicken Enchiladas: 33 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Honey Chipotle Chicken: 61 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Honey Chipotle Chicken: 61 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Enchiladas, Chicken: 32 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chicken Enchiladas Verde: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chicken Tortilla: 26 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chipotle Corn Chowder Soup: 30 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mexican chicken and rice soup: 33 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Jalapeno Chicken Noodle Soup: 26 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chicken Cheese Enchilada-Style Soup: 45 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flour And Corn Blend Soft Tortilla Bowl 8 Count: 30 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old El Paso Mini Flour Tortilla Bowl Mexican Dinner Kit: 43 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Crispy Taco Seasoning Mix For Chicken Or Fish: 23 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chipotle chicken Slow cooker seasoning: 19 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Original Taco Seasoning Mix, Original Taco: 16 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old El Paso Beef Barbacoa Slow Cooker Seasoning Mix: 20 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old El Paso Buttery Homestyle Soft Tortilla Bowls 8 Count: 28 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mild taco sauce: 13 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Taco seasing mix orignal: 16 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Taco shells: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Original Taco Mix Seasoning: 16 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl: 32 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Adobo Steak Burrito Bowl: 45 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Spicy queso blanco: 24 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Cilantro Lime Rice: 20 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Tortilla pocket 4.59: 27 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Red Enchilada Sauce: 18 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Taco Seasoning Mix Ranch: 17 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mexican Style Street Corn Taco Shells: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Taco Shells: 9 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- SANTA FE STYLE Black Beans: 17 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Old El Paso
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 162 tracked records with unusable upstream names remain in the aggregate but are not shown.
Nationwide brands with similar catalog profiles
Two PlainFoodSafe-derived peer sets for Old El Paso: closest on tracked product count (212 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (96.8/100 here). Rows stay link-disjoint so each axis is a distinct neighborhood, not a largest-catalog strip.
Similar product count
Nearest other brands by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Similar average screening score
Nearest other brands by average ingredient screening score (floored at ≥50 scored products), distinct from the count row.
Counts and averages from Open Food Facts labels screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine; neither axis is a health outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old El Paso food safe? ▼
Old El Paso has an average safety score of 97/100 across the 132 of 212 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 10.6% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Old El Paso products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 212 Old El Paso products. 132 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 80 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Old El Paso catalog? ▼
Old El Paso has 128 NOVA-classified products; 89.8% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 115 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Old El Paso catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Old El Paso concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (32, 42% of this top-five); Condiments (21); Snacks (11); Frozen foods (7); Meals (5).
Does Old El Paso use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Old El Paso items list a synthetic dye on their label. For whether the company has committed to removing dyes, the FDA and CSPI both publish corporate-commitment trackers; we no longer restate those commitments here.
What to do with this Old El Paso profile
Use this roll-up as orientation, then verify the specific package you hold against its ingredient panel and the named official sources.
- Start with Spicy Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Taco Shells, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (3) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Red 40 appears in 6 scored Old El Paso products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Old El Paso's 96.8/100 average and 10.6% flagged share against other brands before treating either figure as a recall or clearance signal. Brand safety rankings
- Cross-check any additive concern against FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine rather than relying on this derived index alone. Scoring methodology
A flagged ingredient records a source concern, not a recall, ban, or medical clearance. Always verify the current package label and consult official sources for product-specific decisions.
Citation & disclaimer notes
Brand scores aggregate ingredient-level FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings across Open Food Facts product data. See our methodology. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe.Disclaimer: Informational purposes only; not professional advice. A flagged ingredient is not a recall or a ban. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Brand figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 2026.
