Ingredient Safety Ratings

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

All (23) Safe Caution Cut Back Certain People Should Avoid Avoid

Ingredient	CSPI Rating	FDA Status	Products
Acesulfame Potassium NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	6,989
Aloe vera Flavoring	Avoid	N/A	67
Aspartame FLAVOR ENHANCER, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	2,493
Azodicarbonamide DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT	Avoid	Approved	700
BHA	Avoid	GRAS	2,842
Blue 2	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	3,601
Brominated Vegetable Oil	Avoid	Banned (FDA revoked 2024)	514
Ginkgo biloba Other	Avoid	N/A	7
Olestra	Avoid	Approved	2
Potassium Bromate DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, LEAVENING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT	Avoid	Approved	405
Potassium Iodate DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT	Avoid	GRAS	946
Propyl Gallate ANTIOXIDANT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT	Avoid	GRAS	727
Red 3	Avoid	Banned (FDA revoked Jan 2025)	4,601
Red 40	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	21,594
Saccharin NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	134
Sodium Nitrate ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT	Avoid	Prior Sanctioned	781
Sodium Nitrite ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT	Avoid	Prior Sanctioned	9,577
Sucralose NUTRITIVE SWEETENER	Avoid	Approved	10,490
TBHQ Preservative	Avoid	Approved (preservative, 21 CFR 172.185)	1,893
Titanium Dioxide ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TRACER	Avoid	Prior Sanctioned	8,386
Trans Fat	Avoid	Banned (FDA, 2018)	147
Yellow 5	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	18,986
Yellow 6	Avoid	Approved (certified color)	13,559

Compiled by PlainFoodSafe Editorial, Food Product Safety Editorial Team