Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese carries a safety score of 3/5 and appears in 64 indexed US food products.

Safety score 60.0%

3/5 from FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine

How common is vs other flagged additives?

Number of indexed products containing each of the most common flagged additives — Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese highlighted.

Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Caramel Coloring22612Red 4021595Yellow 518987Carrageenan17853Blue 116643Yellow 613560Sucralose10490Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese64
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
Safety Score
3/5

Safety Assessment

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese has a moderate safety profile (3/5). While approved for use, some studies or consumer advocacy groups have raised questions about certain aspects of this ingredient. Consumers who prefer caution may wish to limit intake.

What the Data Says About

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese currently appears in 64 products across the OpenFoodFacts catalog we index, which gives a concrete measure of its footprint on US grocery shelves. Our internal safety score of 3/5 synthesizes FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Chemical Cuisine classification. These two frameworks capture different questions: regulators ask whether exposure at typical intake is acceptable, while consumer-advocacy groups examine cumulative dietary load and vulnerable-population risk.

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese serves one or more technical functions in food manufacturing — stabilization, flavor, preservation, or structural role — which explains its presence across multiple product categories in our database. Inspection and outbreak records frequently trace back to control failures around functional additives, whether through batch contamination, undisclosed substitutions, or labeling mismatches that trigger recall classifications by the FDA.

No specific concern flags are attached to Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese in our current data snapshot beyond the regulatory and CSPI classifications above. That does not rule out individual sensitivity reactions, and anyone managing allergies, elimination diets, or chronic conditions should verify with a qualified healthcare professional before relying on population-level ratings.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Regulatory and safety classifications for Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
Source Classification Year
FDA SAFFA Not listed 2024
CSPI Chemical Cuisine Not rated 2024
PlainFoodSafe Score 3/5 2026
Product footprint 64 products OpenFoodFacts

FDA SAFFA database, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings, OpenFoodFacts product index. See methodology.

Products Containing

Showing 50 of 64 products

Alfredo
Stefan Faita
100/100
Alfredo Arrabbiata
Rao's
100/100
Alfredo Lemon Sauce
Mantova
100/100
Alfredo sauce
Rana
100/100
Alfredo Sauce Restaurant Style
Flora
100/100
Alfredo sauce with parmigiano reggiano
Rana Meal Solutions Llc
100/100
Alfredo sauce with parmigiano reggiano
Rana Meals Solutions Llc
100/100
Alla genovese pesto
Unknown
100/100
Arugula pesto
Unknown
100/100
Asparagus & Parmigiano Reggiano Ravioli
Rana Meal Solution Llc
100/100
Authentic italian thin crust pizza
Unknown
100/100
Basil pesto
365 Everyday Value, Whole Foods Market Ip Lp
100/100
Basil Pesto Sauce
Trader Joe's
100/100
Basil pesto with fresh fennel
Unknown
100/100
Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
Bella Italia
100/100
Cheese Lovers Tortellini
Giovanni Rana
100/100
Cheese ravioli, cheese
Unknown
100/100
Chicken alfredo with broccoli
Unknown
100/100
Classic cheese mini tortellini
Unknown
100/100
Counter 3 Cheese Chicken Alfredo
Counter
100/100
Counter 3 Cheese Chicken Alfredo - Multi Serve
Counter
100/100
Creamy Marinara with Mascarpone Cheese
Rao's Homemade
100/100
Eggplant Parmesan
Rao's
100/100
Five Cheese Tortellini
Kirkland
100/100
Five Cheese Tortelloni with Parmigiano Reggiano
Kirkland Signature
100/100
Four Cheese
Rao's Homemade
100/100
frederiks traditional alfredo pasta sauce
Fredrick's
100/100
Fresh Shredded Cheese
Argitoni
100/100
fried potatoes
Unknown
100/100
Giovanni Rana, Cheese Forte Ravioli
Rana Meal Solutions Llc
100/100
Grissini Breadsticks
United Bakery & Company
100/100
H-E-B, All Natural Vodka Sauce
Central Market, Central Market H-E-B
100/100
Hemis Fares, Basil And Cheese Sails
The Kroger Co.
100/100
Ht traders, pesto alla genovese
Ht Traders
100/100
Italian pesto
Unknown
100/100
Italian pesto alla genouese
Spice world
100/100
Italian Style Beef Toasted Bites
Unknown
100/100
Italian Wood-Fired Five Cheese Pizza, 15.6 oz (Frozen)
bettergoods
100/100
Lemon Temptress Creamy Lemon Sauce
The Pasta Queen
100/100
Margherita Pizza
Bettergoods
100/100
Mario batali, alla vodka pasta sauce
Summer Garden Food
100/100
Mediterranean tomato & arugula wood-fired crust pizza
Unknown
100/100
Mini tortellini classic cheese
Unknown
100/100
Mushroom & Truffle Pizza
Whole Foods Market
100/100
Natural pizza
Unknown
100/100
Natural pizza
Unknown
100/100
Natural pizza
Unknown
100/100
Organic Caprese Pizza
Wegmans
100/100
Organic Pasta Sauce
Raley's
100/100
Organic pesto with basil
Unknown
100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese safe to eat?

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese has a safety score of 3/5. Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.

What products contain Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese?

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese is found in 64 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.

What does Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese do in food?

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese serves various technical functions in food manufacturing and processing.

Where does this ingredient safety data come from?

Safety data comes from the FDA's SAFFA (Substances Added to Food) database, CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ratings, and the OpenFoodFacts product database. Product counts reflect items cataloged in OpenFoodFacts.