Gardein
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Gardein, 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
Gardein averages 97.5/100 across the 73 of 127 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 27.4% 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.
- 97.5/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 73 scored products
- 127
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 27.4%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 100%
- 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 127 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins ULTIMATE PLANT-BASED CHICK'N STRIPS; ULTIMATE CRISPY BREADED F'SH; Chick'n Noodl' Soup; 27.4% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 97.5/100. 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 73 of 127 tracked Gardein records (57.5%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 54 cannot be screened, so the 97.5/100 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 Gardein
Gardein: 127 products tracked, 73 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 97.5/100, 27.4% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 57.5% 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), Gardein's 27.4% flagged share is 9.4 points above that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Gardein processing intensity
Gardein's NOVA-classified set is 73 products: 100% ultra-processed (Group 4, 73 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 73. That ultra-processed share sits 21.7 points above the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
- G1
- 0
- G2
- 0
- G3
- 0
- G4 ultra
- 73 (100%)
Shelf mix
Where Gardein shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Gardein concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (27, 50% of this top-five); Frozen foods (8); Meat alternatives (8); Meats and their products (6); Meals (5).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-based foods and beverages | 25 | 98.8/100 | 16% |
| Frozen foods | 8 | 96.3/100 | 50% |
| Meat alternatives | 7 | 95.7/100 | 28.6% |
| Meats and their products | 6 | 99.2/100 | 16.7% |
| Meals | 5 | 96/100 | 80% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Gardein's 27.4% flagged share is measured across 73 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.
Gardein flagged share vs large-brand cohort
27.4% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
27% 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 (97.5/100) summarizes 73 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.
Gardein product score distribution
Brand average 97.5/100 across 73 scored products
98 19th percentile sits above 19% of the 73 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
- 80–90
- 8 scored products (11%)
- 90–100
- 12 scored products (16%)
- 100 and above
- 53 scored products (73%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Titanium Dioxide is the flagged ingredient Gardein uses most
Across the 73 Gardein products scored here, Titanium Dioxide appears in 8. Only 1,379 other brands here use it (3.9%), 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 | Gardein products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Titanium Dioxide | 8 | Restricted: EU (banned); California (under review) |
| Carrageenan | 7 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Caramel Coloring | 5 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
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 Gardein 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 (39 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
- 39 ingredients
- Median score
- 100/100
The outlined point is ULTIMATE PLANT-BASED CHICK'N STRIPS, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (1). 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
- ULTIMATE PLANT-BASED CHICK'N STRIPS: 21 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- ULTIMATE CRISPY BREADED F'SH: 40 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Chick'n Noodl' Soup: 38 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Filets: 39 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- ULTIMATE PLANT-BASED CHICK'N NUGGETS: 39 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Filet: 42 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Ultimate Plant-Based Chick'n Wings, Buffalo: 32 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Plant Based Fried Chick’n Mac & Cheese: 48 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Plant Based Be'f Pot Pie: 43 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- plant-based ground be'f: 12 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Be'f & Vegetable Soup: 33 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Gardein, home style meatless meatloaf: 42 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Pocket meals italian meatless sausage: 39 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Plant-Based Sweet And Sour P'rk Bites: 55 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Plant-Based Chick'n Florentino Skillet Meal: 32 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Eggless scramble breakfast pockets: 64 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Plant-Based Breakfast Sausa'ge Patties - Original: 19 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Maple flavored breakfast saus'age patties: 22 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Meatless saus'age with potatoes: 45 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Southwest saus'age & veggie breakfast bowl: 53 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Chick'n Noodl' Soup: 43 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chick'n & Rice Soup: 37 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-based minestrone & saus'ge soup: 47 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Minestrone & Sausige Plant Based Soup, Minestrone & Saus'Ge: 47 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Lightly Seasoned Plant-Based Chick'n Scallopini: 22 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Be'f Tips: 29 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- plant-based seven grain crispy tenders: 38 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Chili With Beans: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- plant-based mandarin orange crispy chick'n: 44 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Sweet And Tangy Barbecue Wings: 35 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chipotle Lime Flavored Plant-Based Chick'n Tenders: 48 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mandarin Orange Crispy Chick'N, Mandarin Orange: 52 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- be'f burger: 29 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Italian Wedding Soup: 38 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Gardein, savory stuffed turk'y with gravy: 49 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Gardein, zesty marinara crispy chick'n filets: 39 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Lightly Breaded Turk'y Cutlets: 40 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- plant-based meatballs: 31 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Teriyaki Chick'n Strips: 34 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Gardein, chick'n patties: 41 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Gardein, breakfast patties: 20 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Gardein, the ultimate beefless slider: 45 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Chipotle Black Bean Burger: 28 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Holiday Roast: 51 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chick'n & Rice Soup: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Minestrone & Saus'ge Soup: 49 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Szechuan beefless strips: 45 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Crispy Chick'n Sliders: 48 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- plant-based chick'n strips: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Plant-Based Chipotle Black Bean Burger: 26 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Gardein
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 77 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 Gardein: closest on tracked product count (127 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (97.5/100 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 Gardein food safe? ▼
Gardein has an average safety score of 98/100 across the 73 of 127 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 27.4% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Gardein products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 127 Gardein products. 73 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 54 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Gardein catalog? ▼
Gardein has 73 NOVA-classified products; 100% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 73 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Gardein catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Gardein concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (27, 50% of this top-five); Frozen foods (8); Meat alternatives (8); Meats and their products (6); Meals (5).
Does Gardein use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Gardein 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 Gardein 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 ULTIMATE PLANT-BASED CHICK'N STRIPS, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (1) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Titanium Dioxide appears in 8 scored Gardein products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Gardein's 97.5/100 average and 27.4% 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.
