Ingredient Safety Ratings

126 ingredients with CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) safety ratings, based on peer-reviewed research and FDA Substances Added to Food status.

126 ingredients with CSPI safety ratings

Each row links a normalized ingredient name to its CSPI Chemical Cuisine rating and FDA Substances Added to Food status, plus how many indexed products list that ingredient. The 126 count is the current filtered set across Safe, Caution, Cut Back, Certain People Should Avoid, and Avoid. Ratings summarize published source classifications; they are not allergy diagnoses or medical guidance.

126 rated ingredients
CSPI Chemical Cuisine
FDA SAFFA status

All (126) Safe Caution Cut Back Certain People Should Avoid Avoid

Ingredient	CSPI Rating	FDA Status	Products
Acesulfame Potassium NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	7,386
Acetic Acid ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT	Safe	GRAS	2,892
Advantame NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Safe	Approved	2
Air Other	Safe	N/A	2
Alginate Thickener	Safe	N/A	47
Allulose Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	682
Aloe vera Flavoring	Avoid	N/A	64
Amylase Flavoring	Safe	N/A	632
Annatto Coloring	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	9,572
Artificial sweeteners Sweetener	Caution	N/A	37
Ascorbyl Palmitate ANTIOXIDANT	Safe	GRAS	454
Aspartame FLAVOR ENHANCER, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	3,611
Autolyzed yeast extract Flavoring	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	4,121
Azodicarbonamide DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT	Avoid	Approved	713
Beta-carotene ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT	Safe	GRAS	2,200
BHA	Avoid	GRAS	2,913
BHT	Caution	GRAS	4,542
Blue 1	Caution	Approved (certified color)	17,024
Blue 2	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	3,627
Brominated Vegetable Oil Emulsifier	Avoid	Banned (FDA revoked 2024)	535
Caffeine FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Certain People Should Avoid	GRAS	3,254
Calcium Propionate ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT	Safe	GRAS	7,256
Caramel Coloring Coloring	Avoid	Approved (color additive, GRAS)	23,161
Carbon Dioxide ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, FREEZING OR COOLING AGENT, DIRECT CONTACT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, PROPELLANT, SOLVENT	Safe	GRAS	662
Carboxymethyl Cellulose ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Caution	GRAS	163
Carmine Coloring	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	778
Carrageenan ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER	Caution	GRAS	18,307
Casein EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER	Certain People Should Avoid	GRAS	580
Cellulose Emulsifier	Safe	N/A	5,155
Citric Acid ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LEAVENING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Safe	GRAS	91,634
Corn Syrup ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, TEXTURIZER	Cut Back	GRAS	46,998
Cysteine Preservative	Safe	N/A	17
Datem Emulsifier	Safe	N/A	4,314
Dextrin ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER	Safe	GRAS	3,472
Dextrose ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER	Cut Back	GRAS	41,251
Diacetyl FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Caution	GRAS	10
EDTA Other	Safe	N/A	273
Erythorbic Acid ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Safe	GRAS	374
Erythritol Sweetener	Safe	N/A	2,460
Ferrous Gluconate COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT	Safe	GRAS	680
Fructose Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	5,437
Fumaric Acid ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LEAVENING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT	Safe	Approved	3,950
Gelatin ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER	Safe	GRAS	9,473
Ginkgo biloba Other	Avoid	N/A	7
Ginseng Other	Safe	N/A	38
Gluconic acid pH Control	Safe	N/A	102
Glycerin ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER	Safe	GRAS	6,934
Green 3	Caution	Approved (certified color)	135
Guarana Other	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	58
High-fructose corn syrup Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	24,937
High-maltose corn syrup Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	1
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein Flavoring	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	553
Inulin Other	Safe	N/A	2,980
Invert Sugar FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Cut Back	GRAS	5,551
Isolated soy protein Other	Safe	N/A	1,385
Isomalt Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	252
Lactic Acid ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE	Safe	GRAS	18,371
Lactitol Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	67
Lactose FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Certain People Should Avoid	GRAS	6,646
Lecithin ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, TEXTURIZER	Safe	GRAS	2,910
Malic Acid FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SYNERGIST	Safe	GRAS	11,229
Maltitol Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	1,591
Maltodextrin ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, TEXTURIZER	Safe	GRAS	33,252
Maltotame Sweetener	Safe	N/A	1
Mannitol ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE	Cut Back	GRAS	571
Monk fruit extract Sweetener	Caution	N/A	1,951
Mono- And Diglycerides EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, TEXTURIZER	Safe	GRAS	98
Mycoprotein Other	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	24
Natamycin FUMIGANT	Safe	Approved	4,012
Neotame FLAVOR ENHANCER, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Safe	Approved	210
Nisin Preservative	Safe	N/A	304
Nitrous Oxide FLAVOR ENHANCER, PROPELLANT	Safe	GRAS	181
Oat fiber Other	Safe	N/A	2,937
Olestra	Avoid	Approved	2
Oligofructose Sweetener	Safe	N/A	253
Papain Other	Safe	N/A	224
Pectin EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FIRMING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER	Safe	GRAS	11,247
Phosphoric Acid ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT	Cut Back	GRAS	4,465
Polydextrose FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER	Cut Back	Approved	1,396
Polysorbate 60 BOILER WATER ADDITIVE, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Caution	Approved	5,786
Polysorbate 65 EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER	Caution	Approved	64
Polysorbate 80 COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Caution	Approved	5,341
Potassium Bromate DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, LEAVENING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT	Avoid	Approved	422
Potassium Chloride ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER	Certain People Should Avoid	GRAS	6,624
Potassium Iodate DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT	Avoid	GRAS	949
Potassium Sorbate ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT	Safe	GRAS	17,373
Propyl Gallate ANTIOXIDANT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Avoid	GRAS	736
Propylene Glycol ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE	Certain People Should Avoid	GRAS	2,863
Quinine Flavoring	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	120
Red 3	Avoid	FDA food listing remains in effect until Jan 15, 2027; revocation scheduled	4,654
Red 40	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	22,216
Saccharin NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	120
Salt Flavoring	Cut Back	N/A	202,873
Sea salt Flavoring	Cut Back	N/A	46,613
Silicon Dioxide ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT	Safe	GRAS	6,399
Sodium Benzoate ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Certain People Should Avoid	GRAS	11,827
Sodium Diacetate FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Safe	GRAS	5,379
Sodium Erythorbate ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT	Safe	GRAS	7,328
Sodium Nitrate ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT	Avoid	Prior Sanctioned	791
Sodium Nitrite ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT	Avoid	Prior Sanctioned	9,702
Sodium stearoyl lactylate Other	Safe	N/A	6,505
Sorbic Acid FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Safe	GRAS	5,662
Sorbitan Monostearate EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT	Safe	Approved	2,285
Sorbitol Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	5,052
Starch Thickener	Safe	N/A	2,186
Stearic Acid EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT	Safe	GRAS	364
Stevia Sweetener	Safe	N/A	1,294
Sucralose NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	10,913
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT	Safe	Approved	416
Sugar Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	163,376
Sulfites Preservative	Certain People Should Avoid	N/A	1,449
Tagatose Sweetener	Cut Back	N/A	22
Tartaric acid Preservative	Safe	N/A	2,374
Taurine FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Safe	Listed	1,270
TBHQ Preservative	Avoid	Approved (preservative, 21 CFR 172.185)	2,019
Thaumatin FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Safe	Listed	18
Titanium Dioxide ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TRACER	Avoid	Prior Sanctioned	8,542
Torula yeast Flavoring	Safe	N/A	2,563
Trans Fat Other	Avoid	Banned (FDA, 2018)	152
Transglutaminase Other	Caution	N/A	15
Triacetin Other	Safe	N/A	115
Vanillin COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Safe	GRAS	4,589
Xylitol HUMECTANT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Cut Back	Approved	914
Yellow 5	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	19,566
Yellow 6	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	13,787
Yellow Prussiate Of Soda ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT	Safe	Approved	167

Compiled by PlainFoodSafe, Food Product Safety Editorial Process