H-E-B
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for H-E-B, 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
H-E-B averages 95.7/100 across the 1,091 of 5,208 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 16.5% 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.
- 95.7/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 1,091 scored products
- 5,208
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 16.5%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 67.9%
- 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 5,208 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Hit the Trail Mix; Hit The Trail Trail Mix; Hit the trail trail mix; 16.5% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 95.7/100. 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 1,091 of 5,208 tracked H-E-B records (20.9%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 4,117 cannot be screened, so the 95.7/100 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 H-E-B
H-E-B: 5,208 products tracked, 1,091 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 95.7/100, 16.5% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 20.9% 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), H-E-B's 16.5% flagged share is 1.5 points below that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
H-E-B processing intensity
H-E-B's NOVA-classified set is 943 products: 67.9% ultra-processed (Group 4, 640 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 640. That ultra-processed share sits 10.4 points below the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
Shelf mix
Where H-E-B shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, H-E-B concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (417, 54% of this top-five); Snacks (127); Dairies (99); Condiments (73); Beverages (62).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-based foods and beverages | 200 | 99.1/100 | 4.5% |
| Snacks | 58 | 92.7/100 | 13.8% |
| Dairies | 45 | 98.3/100 | 13.3% |
| Condiments | 41 | 99.4/100 | 12.2% |
| Beverages | 30 | 81.2/100 | 60% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
H-E-B's 16.5% flagged share is measured across 1,091 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.
H-E-B flagged share vs large-brand cohort
16.5% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
17% 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 (95.7/100) summarizes 1,091 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.
H-E-B product score distribution
Brand average 95.7/100 across 1,091 scored products
96 13th percentile sits above 13% of the 1,091 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
- 0–10
- 10 scored products (1%)
- 10–20
- 1 scored products (0%)
- 20–30
- 4 scored products (0%)
- 30–40
- 2 scored products (0%)
- 40–50
- 5 scored products (0%)
- 50–60
- 8 scored products (1%)
- 60–70
- 25 scored products (2%)
- 70–80
- 27 scored products (2%)
- 80–90
- 28 scored products (3%)
- 90–100
- 70 scored products (6%)
- 100 and above
- 911 scored products (84%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
H-E-B relies most on Caramel Coloring, an industry staple
Across the 1,091 H-E-B products scored here, Caramel Coloring appears in 55. It is used by 3,551 other brands in this database (10.1% 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 | H-E-B products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel Coloring | 55 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Carrageenan | 49 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Acesulfame Potassium | 44 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Sucralose | 38 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Yellow 5 | 28 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 6 | 23 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Red 40 | 21 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 1 | 14 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
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 H-E-B 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 (35.5 ingredients and 50/100) 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
- 35.5 ingredients
- Median score
- 50/100
The outlined point is Hit the Trail Mix, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (9). 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
- Hit the Trail Mix: 47 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Hit The Trail Trail Mix: 37 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Hit the trail trail mix: 31 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Iced Tea with Lemon: 14 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 7 flagged.
- Nacho Cheese: 39 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips: 39 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Ranch tortilla chips: 44 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Peach iced tea: 16 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Tilapia: 18 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Food Coloring Assorted: 10 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Scalloped Potatoes: 50 resolved ingredients, 10/100, 4 flagged.
- Heb liquod drink enhancer: 14 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Strawberry bites with cream cheese: 40 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Flaming Bird Whole Split FS Hot: 48 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Electrolyte Solution Mango: 12 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Opti-Meal Protein Shake, Strawberry: 49 resolved ingredients, 40/100, 4 flagged.
- Naturally Leavened Sourdough Square Scratch Made: 30 resolved ingredients, 40/100, 4 flagged.
- Low calorie soda: 12 resolved ingredients, 35/100, 3 flagged.
- TORTILLA STRIPS TRI-COLOR: 8 resolved ingredients, 35/100, 3 flagged.
- Liquid drink enhancer: 11 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Red soda: 12 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- HEB Lemon Creme Loaf Cake: 47 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- H-e-b, diet original cola, lime: 11 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- H-E-B Mootopia 2% reduced fat Chocolate: 12 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Nutritional Shake: 52 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Nutritional Shake Chocolate: 44 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Nutritional Shake: 45 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- 30g Protein Nutritional Shake Dulce de Leche: 51 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Original Nutritional Shake: 53 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- OPTIMEAL Protein Shake Chocolate: 47 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Opti Meal Protein Shake Vanilla: 53 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Opti-Meal protein shake: 43 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Original Cola: 10 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Original Cola: 10 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Old fashioned low calorie soda: 9 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Low calorie soda: 10 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Dulce De Leche Protein Shake: 53 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Zero Calorie Cola: 11 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- mootopia 2% chocolate milk: 12 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Breakfast Sandwiches Sausage Biscuits: 41 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Zero Original Cola: 12 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- H-e-b, calorie free diet ginger ale soda, ginger: 11 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Mootopia Vanilla: 11 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- 2% Reduced Fat Chocolate: 12 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Caesar Croutons: 46 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Opti-Meal Caffeccino: 38 resolved ingredients, 65/100, 3 flagged.
- Kettle Cooked Potato Chips Jalapeño: 34 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Au Gratin Potatoes: 39 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Loaded Mashed Potatoes: 39 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Mashed Potatoes: 44 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
Products by H-E-B
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 5,158 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 H-E-B: closest on tracked product count (5,208 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (95.7/100 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 H-E-B food safe? ▼
H-E-B has an average safety score of 96/100 across the 1,091 of 5208 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 16.5% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many H-E-B products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 5,208 H-E-B products. 1,091 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 4,117 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the H-E-B catalog? ▼
H-E-B has 943 NOVA-classified products; 67.9% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 640 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the H-E-B catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, H-E-B concentrates in Plant-based foods and beverages (417, 54% of this top-five); Snacks (127); Dairies (99); Condiments (73); Beverages (62).
Does H-E-B use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which H-E-B 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 H-E-B 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 Hit the Trail Mix, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (9) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Caramel Coloring appears in 55 scored H-E-B products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare H-E-B's 95.7/100 average and 16.5% 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.
