Starkist
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Starkist, 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
Starkist averages 98.3/100 across the 135 of 193 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.
- 98.3/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 135 scored products
- 193
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 14.8%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 59.4%
- 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 193 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Chunk light tuna lunch kit; Ready-to-eat tuna salad, albacore, albacore; Lunch To-Go, Ready To Eat Tuna Salad; 14.8% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 98.3/100. 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 135 of 193 tracked Starkist records (69.9%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 58 cannot be screened, so the 98.3/100 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 Starkist
Starkist: 193 products tracked, 135 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 98.3/100, 14.8% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 69.9% 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), Starkist's 14.8% flagged share is 3.2 points below that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Starkist processing intensity
Starkist's NOVA-classified set is 133 products: 59.4% ultra-processed (Group 4, 79 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 79. That ultra-processed share sits 18.9 points below the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
Shelf mix
Where Starkist shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Starkist concentrates in Seafood (103, 85% of this top-five); Meals (6); Snacks (6); Canned foods (5); Bowl (1).
Average score by leading shelf label
| Shelf | Scored n | Avg | Flagged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seafood | 102 | 99/100 | 8.8% |
| Meals | 6 | 95/100 | 33.3% |
| Snacks | 6 | 90/100 | 66.7% |
| Canned foods | 5 | 96/100 | 40% |
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Starkist's 14.8% flagged share is measured across 135 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.
Starkist 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 (98.3/100) summarizes 135 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.
Starkist product score distribution
Brand average 98.3/100 across 135 scored products
98 10th percentile sits above 10% of the 135 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
- 70–80
- 1 scored products (1%)
- 80–90
- 7 scored products (5%)
- 90–100
- 12 scored products (9%)
- 100 and above
- 115 scored products (85%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Polysorbate 80 is the flagged ingredient Starkist uses most
Across the 135 Starkist products scored here, Polysorbate 80 appears in 7. Only 719 other brands here use it (2.0%), 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 | Starkist products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Polysorbate 80 | 7 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Titanium Dioxide | 7 | Restricted: EU (banned); California (under review) |
| Caramel Coloring | 6 | Restricted: California (Prop 65 warning for 4-MEI) |
| Carrageenan | 6 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Yellow 5 | 1 | 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 Starkist 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 (5.5 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
- 5.5 ingredients
- Median score
- 100/100
The outlined point is Chunk light tuna lunch kit, 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
- Chunk light tuna lunch kit: 43 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- Ready-to-eat tuna salad, albacore, albacore: 31 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
- Lunch To-Go, Ready To Eat Tuna Salad: 47 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
- Chicken Creations Premium White Chicken Salad: 31 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
- Whole Grain Dijon Mustard Tuna Salad: 35 resolved ingredients, 80/100, 2 flagged.
- Charlie's Lunch Kit, Chunk Light Tuna Salad In Water: 50 resolved ingredients, 90/100, 2 flagged.
- Charlie's Lunch Kit, Chunk White Albacore Tuna In Water: 53 resolved ingredients, 90/100, 2 flagged.
- Tuna Creations Ranch Lightly Seasoned Premium Tuna: 15 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Tuna Creations Bacon Ranch: 30 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Chicken creations premium white chicken salad: 27 resolved ingredients, 85/100, 1 flagged.
- Lunch-To-Go Tuna Salad Kit: 47 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Deli Style Tuna Salad: 25 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Tuna Creations Herb & Garlic: 20 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Lightly Marinated Premium Chunk Light Tuna: 16 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Charlie's Lunch Kit, Chunk White Albacore Tuna In Water: 46 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Chicken Creations Premium White Chicken in Sauce Zesty Lemon Pepper: 20 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Bold lightly seasoned premium tuna red curry with coconut, red curry with coconut: 20 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Smart Bowls Quinoa & Beans with Tuna Latin Citrus: 38 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Herb and garlic tuna: 21 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Tuna Creations, Tuna Creations: 20 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Tuna Creations Rice & Beans in Hot Sauce: 37 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chunk Light Tuna: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chunk Light Tuna In Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid White Albacore Tuna: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chunk Light Tuna in Vegetable Oil: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chunk Light Tuna: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Starkist, chunk white albacore tuna in water: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid White Albacore Tuna In Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Gourmet Selects, Marinated Tuna Fillet: 16 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid Albacore Tuna Fillet: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Premium Chopped Ocean Clams: 6 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Selects, Chopped Atlantic Sea Clams: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid White Albacore Tuna In Water: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid Yellowfin Tuna in Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Selects, Chunk Light Tuna In Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid Light Tuna in Water: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Albacore Tuna in Water, No Added Salt: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Albacore Tuna in Water, No Added Salt: 17 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Solid Yellowfin Tuna in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Lemon Dill: 7 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Tuna in water package choose type below solid white albacore: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chunk Light Tuna In Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Low Sodium Chunk Light Tuna In Water: 2 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Yellowfin Chunk Light Tuna In Water: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Starkist, chunk light tuna in water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Albacore White Tuna In Water: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Tongol Chunk Light Tuna In Water: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Wild Caught Light Tuna in Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Wild Caught Albacore White Tuna in Water: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Albacore white tuna in water pouch: 5 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Wild Caught Light Tuna in Water: 4 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Starkist
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 143 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 Starkist: closest on tracked product count (193 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (98.3/100 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 Starkist food safe? ▼
Starkist has an average safety score of 98/100 across the 135 of 193 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 14.8% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Starkist products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 193 Starkist products. 135 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 58 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Starkist catalog? ▼
Starkist has 133 NOVA-classified products; 59.4% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 79 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Starkist catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Starkist concentrates in Seafood (103, 85% of this top-five); Meals (6); Snacks (6); Canned foods (5); Bowl (1).
Does Starkist use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Starkist 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 Starkist 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 Chunk light tuna lunch kit, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (2) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Polysorbate 80 appears in 7 scored Starkist products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Starkist's 98.3/100 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.
