Trying to eat healthily these days feels increasingly impossible. Reports of harmful chemicals, microplastics, and more are commonplace, with both food and kitchen items cited as possible threats to our health.
Now, it seems even gluten-free groceries might not be safe.
Siete Foods, a Mexican-American food brand, produces a variety of Mexican-inspired food and ingredients. This includes hot sauce and taco shells. The Siete Foods website references “a collective journey to health” on its About page.
However, the company, which was recently acquired by Pepsi, is currently under fire. This is thanks to a viral video posted by Johanna P. Salazar, a dietician going by the handle @healingnutrition.rd on TikTok. Salazar has called out Siete Foods and Pepsi for “selling rancid food products.” She stated in the video that she hates “to talk negatively about a company,” but feels the need to “do [her] job as a dietician.”
Since being posted on Nov. 20, Salazar’s video has garnered over 330,000 views. So what exactly did she allege is wrong with Siete Foods’ Pepsi-owned food products?
Siete Tortillas Gluten-free gone wrong?
Salazar, a registered dietician with a Master’s degree in clinical nutrition, begins her video discussing Siete Foods’ gluten-free tortillas. She says she’s been having these tortillas “for years,” as she and her family are both gluten-free.
Salazar then discusses the ramifications of Siete Foods being bought by Pepsi, alleging they’ve been “changing their ingredients” since being bought out.
“This is something that my family and I consume a lot, almost like on a daily basis,” Salazar says. “And, well, today it was completely inedible. So it tasted completely rancid.”
Salazar goes on to accuse the company of “using really cheap ingredients,” saying she can smell “rancid” olive oil in the tortillas.
“Pepsi’s always gonna use the cheap stuff, right?” she says. “I mean, they’re not gonna use the good, expensive stuff … So sad.”
Salazar said this has driven her to “part ways” with Siete Foods.
“No more Siete Foods,” Salazar says. “I will be removing it from my grocery list for my clients … Sorry, but I have to do what’s best for me and my followers and my clients. So if you buy Siete Foods and you start tasting a difference? Yeah. Remember me.”
Viewers despair at the lack of options
Commenters were not happy about Salazar’s observations. Multiple people left comments seeking alternatives and asking for recommendations. Many also bemoaned the lack of healthy options available to them.
“Siete tortillas taste terrible now,” wrote one user. “I have celiac disease and used to rely on them.”
“I feel like everything had chemicals nowadays,” said another.
Some commenters shared their own experiences with Pepsi’s Siete Foods, with one user saying, “The chips are always greasy and stale.” The user went on to call the situation “depressing.”
“Ever since they were bought the chips make my daughter sick,” another commenter said. “I hate that we can’t buy their products”
Other commenters expressed frustration at the acquisition itself, accusing Siete Foods of “selling out.”
“I hate when a brand gets popular and sells out,” one commenter wrote. “Why can’t you just keep making it for the reason you said you started? You were popular! You made sells! WHY?! We have so little choices as it is. So sad .”
@healingnutrition.rd My horrible experience with Siete Foods tortillas ? tasted like a chemical #glutenfreelife #glutenfreefood #aipdiet #paleodiet #glutenfreedairyfree ♬ original sound – Johanna | Holistic Dietitian
Has Siete Foods actually changed its ingredients since the Pepsi acquisition?
Complaints about Siete Foods, since it was acquired by Pepsi, are not new. There’s been a wave of heat generated online, with consumers reporting everything from allegedly tweaked ingredients to a new “chemical” taste. This comes well after an initial backlash to the acquisition itself, with consumers expressing distaste toward “big mega companies” buying out smaller brands.
Neither Pepsi nor Siete Foods has made a statement regarding the ingredient list or quality since PepsiCo acquired the latter.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Salazar via email, Siete Foods via contact form, and Pepsi’s Media Relations team via email.
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