Used To Protect Quality

Used To Protect Quality carries a safety score of 3/5 and appears in 464 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 — Used To Protect Quality highlighted.

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

Caramel Coloring22612Red 4021595Yellow 518987Carrageenan17853Blue 116643Yellow 613560Sucralose10490Used To Protect Quality464
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
Safety Score
3/5

Safety Assessment

Used To Protect Quality 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

Used To Protect Quality currently appears in 464 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.

Used To Protect Quality 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 Used To Protect Quality 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 Used To Protect Quality
Source Classification Year
FDA SAFFA Not listed 2024
CSPI Chemical Cuisine Not rated 2024
PlainFoodSafe Score 3/5 2026
Product footprint 464 products OpenFoodFacts

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

Products Containing

Showing 50 of 464 products

1 oz. chesapeake crabcake
Unknown
95/100
2.5oz chesapeake crabcake
Unknown
95/100
4oz 68% lump crab cake
Unknown
100/100
4oz. 68% lump crabcakes
Unknown
100/100
4oz. chesapeake crabcakes
Unknown
95/100
53% Vegetable Oil Spread
Imperial
100/100
53% Vegetable Oil Spread
Lipton
100/100
58% vegetable oil spread
Unknown
100/100
58% Vegetable Oil Spread
Unknown
100/100
58% vegetable oil spread
Unknown
100/100
58% vegetable oil spread
Hy-Vee Inc.
100/100
58% vegetable oil spread
Unknown
100/100
79% Vegetable Oil Spread
Country Crock
100/100
Aged Cheddar
Pretty Perfect
100/100
Apples & cinnamon
Unknown
100/100
Artificially flavored ham and pumpkin bouillon
Knorr
85/100
Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
Best Foods
100/100
Avocado oil mayonnaise dressing
Best Foods
100/100
Avocado oil mayonnaise dressing
Unknown
100/100
Avocado Oil Mayonnaise Dressing
Best Foods
100/100
Avocado Oil Mayonnaise Dressing
HELLMANN'S
100/100
Avocado oil mayonnaise dressing with a hint of lime
Hellmann's
100/100
Baked brie en croute in brioche crust
Unknown
100/100
Baked brie en croute with cranberries and apricots in brioche crust
Unknown
100/100
Baked Brie Pastry With Blueberries, Almonds, & Vanilla
Old Europe Cheese Inc.
100/100
Balsamic & basil vinaigrette dressing
Wish-Bone, Pinnacle Foods Group Llc
95/100
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Wish-Bone, Lipton
95/100
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Wish-Bone, Pinnacle Foods Group Llc
95/100
Bavarian Potato Dumpling Mix
Panni
100/100
Bavarian potato pancake mix
Panni
100/100
BEEF BOUILLON
Knorr
80/100
Beef Flavor Bouillon
Knorr,Unilever
80/100
Beer marinade steak sauce
Unknown
80/100
best choice butter
Best Choice
100/100
Best Food
Best Foods
100/100
best foods mayonnaise
Best Foods
100/100
Best Foods Vegan Dressing & Spread
Hellmann's
100/100
Best foods, bring out the best, real mayonnaise
Best Foods
100/100
Best foods, real mayonnaise
Best Foods, Unilever
100/100
Best foods, vegan carefully crafted dressing & sandwich spread
Best Foods, Unilever
100/100
Best Woods vegan
Best Foods, Unilever
100/100
Better than butter spread 58% vegetable oil
Unknown
100/100
Big y, just like mom's potato salad
Big Y, Big Y Foods Inc.
100/100
Big y, red skin potato salad
Unknown
100/100
Bouillion caldo de tomate tomato with chicken package of cubes
Knorr, Unilever
5/100
Bouillon
Knorr
80/100
Bread sticks
Joseph Campione Inc.
100/100
Bread sticks
Unknown
100/100
Breakfast bacon wrap
Unknown
100/100
Brie En Croute
La Bonne Vie
100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Used To Protect Quality safe to eat?

Used To Protect Quality has a safety score of 3/5. Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.

What products contain Used To Protect Quality?

Used To Protect Quality is found in 464 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.

What does Used To Protect Quality do in food?

Used To Protect Quality 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.