Is Mission Tortillas Clean?

The Short Answer

Most Mission tortillas are an Avoid.

While they are the most popular brand in America, their softness comes at a cost. The standard flour tortillas, "Carb Balance" line, and gluten-free wraps rely on hydrogenated oils, bleached flour, and a cocktail of preservatives like calcium propionate.

The only exception is the Organic line, which swaps the hydrogenated oil for sunflower oil and removes the artificial preservatives. However, even these contain carrageenan, a thickener that can cause digestive inflammation. If you want a truly clean tortilla, you are better off with brands like Siete or uncooked options like TortillaLand.

Why This Matters

Real tortillas need only four ingredients: flour (or corn), water, fat, and salt.

Mission's ingredient lists are often 20+ items long. The biggest offender is hydrogenated soybean oil. This is a cheap, industrial fat used to extend shelf life and create that "gummy" texture. While fully hydrogenated oils are technically trans-fat free on the label, they are still highly processed industrial fats that don't belong in a clean diet.

Furthermore, the "Carb Balance" line—marketed as a health product—is essentially highly processed wheat starch held together with gluten isolate and gums. It's a chemistry experiment designed to trick your blood sugar, not nourish your body. Are Low Carb Tortillas Healthy

What's Actually In Mission Tortillas

Here is a breakdown of the ingredients in their most popular "Soft Taco" Flour Tortillas:

• Enriched Bleached Flour — Stripped of nutrients and chemically bleached. White Vs Wheat Bread
• Vegetable Shortening — Listed as "Interesterified and Hydrogenated Soybean Oils." This is the biggest red flag. Seed Oils
• Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate — A chemical leavening agent used in industrial baking.
• Distilled Monoglycerides — An emulsifier that often contains hidden trans fats.
• Calcium Propionate / Sorbic Acid — Preservatives that prevent mold so the product can sit on shelves for months.

The "Almond Flour" Trap

Don't be fooled by the "Almond Flour" gluten-free wraps. They aren't just pressed almonds. They contain modified food starch, rice flour, pea protein, sugar, and gums. You are paying a premium for a product that is mostly cheap fillers.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Short Ingredient Lists — Corn, water, lime (for corn tortillas). Flour, water, oil, salt, baking powder (for flour).
• "Raw" or "Uncooked" — found in the refrigerated section. These don't need heavy preservatives because you cook them fresh.
• Healthy Fats — Avocado oil, butter, or even plain sunflower oil is better than hydrogenated soy.

Red Flags:

• "Hydrogenated" anything — Instant avoid.
• Bleached Flour — Indicates heavy processing.
• Sucralose / Artificial Sweeteners — Common in "Carb Balance" or "Keto" wraps.
• Modified Food Starch — The primary ingredient in low-carb imposters.

The Best Options

If you need a tortilla, skip the shelf-stable aisle and check the fridge or freezer.

The Bottom Line

1. Ditch the Red Bag. The standard Mission flour tortillas are ultra-processed junk food disguised as a pantry staple.

2. Go Raw. Buy uncooked tortillas (like TortillaLand) that you brown in the pan yourself. They taste better and skip the preservatives.

3. Read the "Health" Labels. Keto and Gluten-Free Mission wraps are often worse than the originals, packed with modified starches and gums to mimic the texture of gluten.

FAQ

Are Mission Corn Tortillas clean?

Not entirely. While better than the flour version, Mission corn tortillas still contain cellulose gum, guar gum, and preservatives (benzoic/propionic acid). A truly clean corn tortilla should just be corn, water, and lime.

Is the "Carb Balance" line healthy?

No. It relies on modified wheat starch and hydrogenated oils. While it is low in calories and net carbs, it is a highly processed food product, not a whole food. Is Keto Bread Healthy

Why are raw tortillas better?

Because they are sold refrigerated and cooked at home, they don't require the heavy load of mold inhibitors and preservatives found in shelf-stable tortillas.

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References (2)

1. 1. ewg.org
2. 2. thefreshgrocer.com