Pop-Tarts
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Pop-Tarts, 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
Pop-Tarts averages 46.2/100 across the 78 of 115 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 88.5% 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.
- 46.2/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 78 scored products
- 115
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 88.5%
- 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 115 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Toaster pastries, frosted hot fudge sundae; 16 Frosted Pumpkin Pie, 16 Frosted S'mores; Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae; 88.5% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 46.2/100. 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 78 of 115 tracked Pop-Tarts records (67.8%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 37 cannot be screened, so the 46.2/100 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 Pop-Tarts
Pop-Tarts: 115 products tracked, 78 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 46.2/100, 88.5% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 67.8% 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), Pop-Tarts's 88.5% flagged share is 70.5 points above that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Pop-Tarts processing intensity
Pop-Tarts's NOVA-classified set is 78 products: 100% ultra-processed (Group 4, 78 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 78. 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
- 78 (100%)
Shelf mix
Where Pop-Tarts shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Pop-Tarts concentrates in Snacks (70, 95% of this top-five); Breakfast-pastries (1); Desserts (1); Plant-based foods and beverages (1); Sweet pies (1).
- Snacks 70
- Breakfast-pastries 1
- Desserts 1
- Plant-based foods and beverages 1
- Sweet pies 1
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Pop-Tarts's 88.5% flagged share is measured across 78 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.
Pop-Tarts flagged share vs large-brand cohort
88.5% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
89% 54th percentile is at or above the flagged share of 54% 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 (46.2/100) summarizes 78 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.
Pop-Tarts product score distribution
Brand average 46.2/100 across 78 scored products
46 56th percentile sits above 56% of the 78 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
- 23 scored products (29%)
- 10–20
- 2 scored products (3%)
- 20–30
- 9 scored products (12%)
- 30–40
- 5 scored products (6%)
- 40–50
- 10 scored products (13%)
- 80–90
- 2 scored products (3%)
- 90–100
- 18 scored products (23%)
- 100 and above
- 9 scored products (12%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Pop-Tarts relies most on Caramel Coloring, an industry staple
Across the 78 Pop-Tarts products scored here, Caramel Coloring appears in 53. 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 | Pop-Tarts products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel Coloring | 53 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Red 40 | 49 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 1 | 39 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 6 | 30 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 5 | 25 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 2 | 21 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Carrageenan | 10 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| TBHQ | 2 | Preservative with a recorded concern |
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 Pop-Tarts 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 15/100) 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
- 15/100
The outlined point is Toaster pastries, frosted hot fudge sundae, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (10). 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
- Toaster pastries, frosted hot fudge sundae: 49 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 10 flagged.
- 16 Frosted Pumpkin Pie, 16 Frosted S'mores: 48 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae: 41 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Frosted Confetti Cupcake: 43 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 8 flagged.
- Frosted Confetti Cupcake Pop-Tarts: 44 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 8 flagged.
- Frosted Wild Berry Pop-Tarts: 60 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 8 flagged.
- Frosted strawberry milkshake: 38 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 7 flagged.
- Frosted Confetti Cake Flavored Tasty Filled Pastry Bites, Frosted Confetti Cake: 41 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 6 flagged.
- FROSTED PUMPKIN PIE POP TARTS: 42 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 6 flagged.
- Frosted Strawberry Milkshake: 38 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Mer-Mazing Blue Raspberry Flavored Toaster Pastries, Mer-Mazing Blue Raspberry: 36 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Blue Raspberry Poptart: 36 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Frosted Cherry: 37 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Frosted cherry toaster pastries, cherry: 39 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Frosted Chocolatey Churro Flavored Toaster Pastries, Frosted Chocolatey Churro: 34 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- Frosted Chocolate Chip Toaster Pastries: 44 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- Chocolate Chip: 45 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- Chocolate chip cookie dough: 42 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- crunchy poptarts chocolate brownie: 82 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- Crunchy Poppers Brownie Crunch: 41 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- Frosted chocolate chip cookie dough: 39 resolved ingredients, 5/100, 5 flagged.
- Froot Loops Flavor Toaster Pastries, Froot Loops: 31 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Crunchy Poppers Frosted Strawberry Crunch: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Pop-tart Chocolate Pretzel: 36 resolved ingredients, 10/100, 4 flagged.
- Chocolate Flavored Pretzel Toaster Pastries, Chocolate: 36 resolved ingredients, 10/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts: 39 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Strawberry: 39 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Pop-Tarts Variety Pack: 38 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Toaster pastries, frosted strawberry: 44 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries: 38 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Pop-Tarts Slammin' Strawberry: 43 resolved ingredients, 20/100, 4 flagged.
- Unfrosted Blueberry: 35 resolved ingredients, 30/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Blueberry: 39 resolved ingredients, 30/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Blueberry Flavored Tasty Filled Pastry Bites, Frosted Blueberry: 39 resolved ingredients, 30/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Blueberry Pop-Tarts: 40 resolved ingredients, 30/100, 4 flagged.
- Pop-Tarts Protein Bumpin' Blueberry: 41 resolved ingredients, 30/100, 4 flagged.
- Pop Tarts: 44 resolved ingredients, 40/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted strawberry tasty filled pastry bites, frosted strawberry: 42 resolved ingredients, 40/100, 4 flagged.
- Frosted Strawberry Flavored Tasty Filled Pastry Bites, Frosted Strawberry: 42 resolved ingredients, 40/100, 4 flagged.
- Apple Jacks: 26 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Frosted marshmallow hot cocoa: 33 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Grab All 10!: 30 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- Frosted Raspberry Flavored Toaster Pastries, Frosted Raspberry: 37 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Crisps: 48 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Pop tarts unfrosted strawberry: 31 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Frosted raspberry: 26 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Frosted Strawberry Pop Tarts: 49 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Poptarts Crunchy Poppers: 44 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Ice cream sandwiches: 70 resolved ingredients, 45/100, 3 flagged.
- Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon: 27 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
Products by Pop-Tarts
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 65 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 Pop-Tarts: closest on tracked product count (115 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (46.2/100 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 Pop-Tarts food safe? ▼
Pop-Tarts has an average safety score of 46/100 across the 78 of 115 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 88.5% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Pop-Tarts products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 115 Pop-Tarts products. 78 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 37 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Pop-Tarts catalog? ▼
Pop-Tarts has 78 NOVA-classified products; 100% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 78 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Pop-Tarts catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Pop-Tarts concentrates in Snacks (70, 95% of this top-five); Breakfast-pastries (1); Desserts (1); Plant-based foods and beverages (1); Sweet pies (1).
Does Pop-Tarts use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Pop-Tarts 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 Pop-Tarts 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 Toaster pastries, frosted hot fudge sundae, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (10) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Caramel Coloring appears in 53 scored Pop-Tarts products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Pop-Tarts's 46.2/100 average and 88.5% 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.
