Takis Fuego Tortilla Chips are safe to consume. All Ingredients Meets Safety Standards.

Takis Fuego, rolled tortilla chips, owned by Barcel is known for its hot and fiery taste and is one of the favourite snacks of many people. Other than Fuego, Takis has many other flavors of tortilla chips.

Recently, consumers have raised concerns about the safety of consuming Takis Fuego due to the presence of high amounts of Sodium, TBHQ and Allura Red. 

As per the claim, a 62-gram bag of Takis Fuego contains 977 milligrams (almost half of what is advised as daily intake value) of sodium which leads to high blood pressure and the presence of TBHQ and Allura Red leads to the development of tumors. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. The sodium content of Takis Fuego is much lower than that was mentioned in the post. Also, TBHQ and Allura Red are approved additives. 

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Fact Check- 

TBHQ: 

Tertiary butylhydroquinone, also known as TBHQ, is an additive, added to processed foods to increase the shelf life. It works as an antioxidant, which prevents foods from changing color. Its main job is to stop fats and oils in food from turning rancid.

Some research had shown that TBHQ might lead to health problems. After a study on male rats, no death was observed. However, after a few weeks their body weight was found to have changed. Apart from this, higher doses of TBHQ resulted in DNA damage and damaged stomach cells within 24 hours of consumption.

After reviewing multiple studies, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set a safe daily limit for TBHQ at 0.7 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Research shows that most adults usually consume much less than this limit. However, there were some worries that infants who consume formula milk containing TBHQ could exceed the safe amount.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved TBHQ for use in food, under strict conditions. According to the FDA, TBHQ must have a melting point of at least 126.5°C and be at least 99% pure. It is only allowed to be used as an antioxidant, either by itself or along with other additives like BHA and BHT, to prevent food from oxidizing. Also, the total amount of antioxidants in any food, including TBHQ, should not be more than 0.02% of the food’s fat or oil content.

Allura Red: 

Allura Red or Red 40 is a synthetic dye that’s used in a variety of foods. The full name of this dye is FD and C red no. 40. It’s considered a color additive. 

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed the safety of Allura Red AC (E 129), a food colouring allowed in the EU, and confirmed it is safe within the established acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0-7 mg/kg body weight. While a recent study suggested it might cause DNA damage in mice at high doses, long-term studies showed no evidence of cancer, even at doses far exceeding typical human consumption. Other genetic tests and studies on its breakdown products also indicated no significant harm. EFSA concluded that the observed DNA effects are unlikely to lead to cancer, reaffirming Allura Red AC’s safety when used as a food additive. 

FDA has permitted the use of Red 40 in cereals, beverages, gelatins, puddings, dairy products and confections.

Sodium: 

How much sodium is there in Takis Fuego? 

According to the nutrition information available on Takis Fuego’s website, a 47 gram pack/bag contains 270 grams sodium.  Another website mentioned that the 62-gram bag of Takis Fuego contains 358 grams of sodium. 

Sodium is an essential mineral, but consuming too much of it can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. The FDA recommends a daily sodium limit of less than 2,300 milligrams per day. To manage sodium intake, people should read Nutrition Facts labels and choose products with 5% Daily Value (DV) or less, avoiding those with 20% DV or more.

As the %DV value of sodium in Takis Fuego is less than 20%, it is below the alarming level. 

Conclusion: 

The viral claim is misleading. Although high sodium intake leads to blood pressure and other health issues, Takis Fuego contains sodium within the safe range. Also TBHQ and Allura Red in the product have been approved as additives to be used in food by the regulatory bodies.