Columbus
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Columbus, 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
Columbus averages 83.9/100 across the 57 of 149 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 66.7% 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.
- 83.9/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 57 scored products
- 149
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 66.7%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 65.4%
- 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 149 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Italian Salame; Columbus, cabernet sauvignon wine salame; Columbus, pinot noir wine salame; 66.7% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 83.9/100. 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 57 of 149 tracked Columbus records (38.3%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 92 cannot be screened, so the 83.9/100 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 Columbus
Columbus: 149 products tracked, 57 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 83.9/100, 66.7% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 38.3% 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), Columbus's 66.7% flagged share is 48.7 points above that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Columbus processing intensity
Columbus's NOVA-classified set is 52 products: 65.4% ultra-processed (Group 4, 34 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 34. That ultra-processed share sits 12.9 points below the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
Shelf mix
Where Columbus shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Columbus concentrates in Meats and their products (44, 83% of this top-five); Condiments (3); Dairies (3); Snacks (2); Deli-meat (1).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meats and their products | 35 | 79.9/100 | 80% |
| Condiments | 3 | 98.3/100 | 33.3% |
| Dairies | 3 | 100/100 | 0% |
| Snacks | 2 | 100/100 | 0% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Columbus's 66.7% flagged share is measured across 57 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.
Columbus flagged share vs large-brand cohort
66.7% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
67% 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 (83.9/100) summarizes 57 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.
Columbus product score distribution
Brand average 83.9/100 across 57 scored products
84 53rd percentile sits above 53% of the 57 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
- 70–80
- 26 scored products (46%)
- 80–90
- 8 scored products (14%)
- 90–100
- 4 scored products (7%)
- 100 and above
- 19 scored products (33%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Sodium Nitrite is the flagged ingredient Columbus uses most
Across the 57 Columbus products scored here, Sodium Nitrite appears in 32. Only 1,491 other brands here use it (4.2%), which makes it a more particular choice than the flags that dominate the catalogue. 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 | Columbus products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium Nitrite | 32 | Preservative with a recorded concern |
| Sodium Nitrate | 28 | Preservative with a recorded concern |
| Caramel Coloring | 2 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Carrageenan | 2 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
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 Columbus 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 (11 ingredients and 70/100) 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
- 11 ingredients
- Median score
- 70/100
The outlined point is Italian Salame, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (2). 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
- Italian Salame: 17 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Columbus, cabernet sauvignon wine salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Columbus, pinot noir wine salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Columbus, pinot grigio wine salame, lemon peel: 12 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Chorizo Salame: 10 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Columbus, chorizo casero: 10 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 12 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Premium genoa: 12 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 12 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Calabrese salame: 13 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Peppered Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Columbus, lite italian dry salame: 9 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Peppered Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Columbus, premium genoa: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Crespone traditional salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Finocchiona fennel salame: 12 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Genoa Salame Panino: 16 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Hot Sopressata Panino, Thin Sliced Mozzarella Rolled With Salame: 17 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Genoa Salame Paninos: 17 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Fiore Secchi Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Charcuterie Snack Tray: 26 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Italian Dry Salame: 10 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Peppered Salame: 11 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Sopressata: 11 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Peppered Salami: 12 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Herb Turkey Breast: 9 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Maple turkey breast: 9 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Pancetta: 6 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Genoa Salame: 8 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Uncured applewood ham: 7 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Oven roasted turkey breast: 12 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Pastrami naturally smoked coated with spices and caramel color: 14 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Columbus, pesto mayonnaise: 23 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Turkey Breast: 7 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Roasted Beef: 9 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mild Cheddar Cheese: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Provolone Cheese: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Havarti cheese: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Prosciutto: 2 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Prosciutto Panino: 6 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- PROSCIUTTO PANINOS: 7 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Uncuted pepperoni: 11 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Honey Mustard: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Dijon Mustard: 24 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Parmesan Rosemary Flavored Marcona Almonds: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Columbus
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 99 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 Columbus: closest on tracked product count (149 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (83.9/100 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 Columbus food safe? ▼
Columbus has an average safety score of 84/100 across the 57 of 149 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 66.7% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Columbus products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 149 Columbus products. 57 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 92 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Columbus catalog? ▼
Columbus has 52 NOVA-classified products; 65.4% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 34 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Columbus catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Columbus concentrates in Meats and their products (44, 83% of this top-five); Condiments (3); Dairies (3); Snacks (2); Deli-meat (1).
Does Columbus use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Columbus 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 Columbus 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 Italian Salame, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (2) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Sodium Nitrite appears in 32 scored Columbus products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Columbus's 83.9/100 average and 66.7% 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.
