Golden Flake
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Golden Flake, 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
Golden Flake averages 96.0/100 across the 61 of 95 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 14.8% 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.
- 96.0/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 61 scored products
- 95
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 14.8%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 86.7%
- 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 95 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Golden flake, tortilla chips, nacho cheese; Golden flake, nacho tortilla chips, cheese; Golden flake, tortilla chips, nacho cheese; 14.8% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 96.0/100. 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 61 of 95 tracked Golden Flake records (64.2%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 34 cannot be screened, so the 96.0/100 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 Golden Flake
Golden Flake: 95 products tracked, 61 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 96.0/100, 14.8% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 64.2% 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), Golden Flake's 14.8% flagged share is 3.2 points below that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Golden Flake processing intensity
Golden Flake's NOVA-classified set is 60 products: 86.7% ultra-processed (Group 4, 52 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 52. That ultra-processed share sits 8.4 points above the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
Shelf mix
Where Golden Flake shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Golden Flake concentrates in Snacks (47, 84% of this top-five); Plant-based foods and beverages (5); Condiments (2); Chips (1); Fried-pork-skins (1).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snacks | 45 | 94.9/100 | 17.8% |
| Plant-based foods and beverages | 2 | 100/100 | 0% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Golden Flake's 14.8% flagged share is measured across 61 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.
Golden Flake flagged share vs large-brand cohort
14.8% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
15% 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 (96.0/100) summarizes 61 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.
Golden Flake product score distribution
Brand average 96.0/100 across 61 scored products
96 12th percentile sits above 12% of the 61 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
- 50–60
- 4 scored products (7%)
- 80–90
- 2 scored products (3%)
- 90–100
- 3 scored products (5%)
- 100 and above
- 52 scored products (85%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Golden Flake relies most on Yellow 5, an industry staple
Across the 61 Golden Flake products scored here, Yellow 5 appears in 3. It is used by 2,320 other brands in this database (6.6% of them), so its presence says more about the category than about this brand. 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 | Golden Flake products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow 5 | 3 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 6 | 3 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Caramel Coloring | 2 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Carrageenan | 1 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Red 40 | 1 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Sodium Nitrite | 1 | Preservative with a recorded concern |
| Titanium Dioxide | 1 | Restricted: EU (banned); California (under review) |
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 Golden Flake 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 (19 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
- 19 ingredients
- Median score
- 100/100
The outlined point is Golden flake, tortilla chips, nacho cheese, 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
- Golden flake, tortilla chips, nacho cheese: 27 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Golden flake, nacho tortilla chips, cheese: 27 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Golden flake, tortilla chips, nacho cheese: 26 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Peppermint candy: 4 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Pretzel minis: 23 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Beef and cheese: 14 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Golden flake, thin & crispy potato chips, barbecue: 20 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Golden flake, fried pork skins, hot sauce: 27 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Duplex Sandwich Creme Cookies: 22 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fried Pork Skins: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake original thin & crispy potato chips: 8 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Dip style mesquite barbecue potato chips, dip style, mesquite barbecue: 19 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake sour cream 'n onion dip style potato chips: 23 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake thin & crispy sweet heat barbecue flavored potato chips: 19 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake hot thin & crispy potato chips: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, potato chips, tangy pickle bbq: 22 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, potato chips, buffalo ranch: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake crisp & crunchy cheese curls: 37 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake cheese flavored crisp & crunchy cheese curls snack: 37 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Vinegar and Salt Potato Chips: 13 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake baked cheese flavored puffs: 32 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Cheese puffs: 32 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Puffs: 43 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Puff Corn: 28 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Dip Style Potato Chips: 13 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, simply seasoned popcorn, sea salt: 7 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, flavored popcorn, white cheddar cheese: 24 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chicharrones Fried Pork Skins: 9 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chicharrones super strips: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chicharrones Fried Pork Skins: 13 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Old fashioned chicharrones fried pork skins, old fashioned: 9 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Fried Pork Skins: 18 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Sweet Heat Barbecue Flavored Chicharrones - Fried Pork Skins: 11 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Vinegar & salt chicharrones fried pork skins, vinegar & salt: 8 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Maple Bacon Pork Skins - Chicharrones, Maple: 7 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Potato Chiips: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Dip Style Potato Chips: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Dip Style Potato Chips: 8 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, sweet heat thin & crispy potato chips, barbecue: 17 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Thin & crispy potato chips: 14 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Thin & crispy potato chips: 18 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Buffalo ranch thin & crispy potato chips, buffalo ranch: 27 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Thin & Crispy Potato Chips: 11 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, potato chip, barbecue: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Potato chips: 20 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Buffalo Ranch Thin & Crispy Potato Chips, Buffalo Ranch: 27 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Potato Chips: 19 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Flake hot thin & crispy potato chips: 21 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Vinegar & salt: 14 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Golden flake, salted cashews: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Golden Flake
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 45 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 Golden Flake: closest on tracked product count (95 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (96/100 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 Golden Flake food safe? ▼
Golden Flake has an average safety score of 96/100 across the 61 of 95 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 14.8% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Golden Flake products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 95 Golden Flake products. 61 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 34 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Golden Flake catalog? ▼
Golden Flake has 60 NOVA-classified products; 86.7% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 52 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Golden Flake catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Golden Flake concentrates in Snacks (47, 84% of this top-five); Plant-based foods and beverages (5); Condiments (2); Chips (1); Fried-pork-skins (1).
Does Golden Flake use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Golden Flake 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 Golden Flake 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 Golden flake, tortilla chips, nacho cheese, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (2) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Yellow 5 appears in 3 scored Golden Flake products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Golden Flake's 96.0/100 average and 14.8% 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.
