Lay's
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Lay's, 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
Lay's averages 95.2/100 across the 435 of 763 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 20.2% 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.
- 95.2/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 435 scored products
- 763
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 20.2%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 84.7%
- 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 763 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins LAY'S® STAX® Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins; Potato Crisps, All-American Cheeseburger; Stax Potato Crisps, Thai Sweet Chili; 20.2% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 95.2/100. 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 435 of 763 tracked Lay's records (57%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 328 cannot be screened, so the 95.2/100 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 Lay's
Lay's: 763 products tracked, 435 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 95.2/100, 20.2% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 57% 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), Lay's's 20.2% flagged share is 2.2 points above that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Lay's processing intensity
Lay's's NOVA-classified set is 418 products: 84.7% ultra-processed (Group 4, 354 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 354. That ultra-processed share sits 6.4 points above the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
Shelf mix
Where Lay's shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Lay's concentrates in Snacks (246, 56% of this top-five); Plant-based foods and beverages (188); Condiments (4); Chips and fries (2); Baked-chips (1).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snacks | 238 | 95.7/100 | 19.7% |
| Plant-based foods and beverages | 127 | 94.7/100 | 18.9% |
| Condiments | 4 | 92.5/100 | 50% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Lay's's 20.2% flagged share is measured across 435 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.
Lay's flagged share vs large-brand cohort
20.2% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
20% 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 (95.2/100) summarizes 435 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.
Lay's product score distribution
Brand average 95.2/100 across 435 scored products
95 13th percentile sits above 13% of the 435 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
- 11 scored products (3%)
- 20–30
- 6 scored products (1%)
- 30–40
- 1 scored products (0%)
- 60–70
- 1 scored products (0%)
- 70–80
- 2 scored products (0%)
- 80–90
- 6 scored products (1%)
- 90–100
- 61 scored products (14%)
- 100 and above
- 347 scored products (80%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Lay's relies most on Caramel Coloring, an industry staple
Across the 435 Lay's products scored here, Caramel Coloring appears in 62. 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 | Lay's products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel Coloring | 62 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Yellow 5 | 20 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 6 | 16 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Red 40 | 15 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 1 | 11 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 2 | 5 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Aspartame | 3 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Sucralose | 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 Lay's 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 (30 ingredients and 85/100) 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
- 30 ingredients
- Median score
- 85/100
The outlined point is LAY'S® STAX® Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (8). 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
- LAY'S® STAX® Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins: 49 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 8 flagged.
- Potato Crisps, All-American Cheeseburger: 49 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 7 flagged.
- Stax Potato Crisps, Thai Sweet Chili: 38 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 7 flagged.
- Lay'S Stax Hot'N Spicy Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips 5.5 Ounce Plastic Canister: 38 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 6 flagged.
- Stax Potato Crisps, Korean Bbq: 39 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 6 flagged.
- Potato Crisps, Jalapeno Pepper Jack: 48 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Lay's Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips: 82 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Potato Crisps, Pizza: 43 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Lays cheddar imp: 39 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- frito lay: 44 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Ghost Pepper Ranch Lays: 39 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- STAX Sour Cream & Onion Flavored: 38 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Stax potato crisps: 37 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- original mix: 49 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Potato Crisps, Sour Cream & Onion: 37 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Potato Chips, Habanero Diable: 32 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Kettle Cooked Flamin’ Hot Flavored: 26 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Mesquite Barbecue Flavored Potato Crisps, Mesquite Barbecue: 31 resolved ingredients, 35/100, 3 flagged.
- Lay's imp: 31 resolved ingredients, 60/100, 2 flagged.
- Buffalo Ranch Dip, Buffalo Ranch: 19 resolved ingredients, 75/100, 1 flagged.
- Lays doritos cool ranch: 37 resolved ingredients, 75/100, 1 flagged.
- Sweet Chili Heat: 39 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Kobe Thick Cut Steak: 20 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Lay's Potato Chips (Imitation fried crab flavor): 28 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Soicy hot pot chips: 20 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Lay's Sabor Orégano: 14 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Chili & Salt: 21 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips, Barbecue: 25 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- BARBECUE FLAVORED POTATO CHIPS: 28 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips: 24 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Potato Chips Barbecue: 24 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Lightly Salted Sweet & Smoky Barbecue Flavored Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Lightly Salted Sweet & Smoky Barbecue: 26 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Baked Barbecue: 24 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Kettle cooked less fat applewood smoked bbq flavored: 23 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- French Onion Dip: 16 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Potato Chips, Barbecue: 25 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fiery Habanero Flavored Potato Chips, Fiery Habanero: 28 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fried Pickles With Ranch Flavored Potato Chips, Fried Pickles With Ranch: 30 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fried Green Tomato Flavored Potato Chips, Fried Green Tomato: 28 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Wavy West Coast Truffle Fries Flavored Potato Chips, West Coast Truffle Fries: 37 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fried Pickles With Ranch Flavored Potato Chips, Fried Pickles With Ranch: 30 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Barbecue flavored potato chips: 24 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Baked Barbecue: 26 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Barbecue: 26 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Honey Barbecue: 30 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fried Pickles With Ranch Flavored Potato Chips, Fried Pickles With Ranch: 30 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Lays chicken and waffle: 23 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fried Pickles With Ranch Flavored Potato Chips, Fried Pickles With Ranch: 30 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips, Barbecue: 24 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Fiery Habanero Flavored Potato Chips, Fiery Habanero: 28 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
Products by Lay's
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 713 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 Lay's: closest on tracked product count (763 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (95.2/100 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 Lay's food safe? ▼
Lay's has an average safety score of 95/100 across the 435 of 763 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 20.2% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Lay's products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 763 Lay's products. 435 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 328 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Lay's catalog? ▼
Lay's has 418 NOVA-classified products; 84.7% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 354 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Lay's catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Lay's concentrates in Snacks (246, 56% of this top-five); Plant-based foods and beverages (188); Condiments (4); Chips and fries (2); Baked-chips (1).
Does Lay's use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Lay's 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 Lay's 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 LAY'S® STAX® Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (8) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Caramel Coloring appears in 62 scored Lay's products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Lay's's 95.2/100 average and 20.2% 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.
