Chef Salad

by Kroger

85
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Chef Salad by Kroger receives a safety score of 85/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient that have been flagged for potential safety concerns by regulatory or consumer advocacy databases. Product label data is sourced from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative database. See the full ingredient breakdown and safety assessment below.

Barcode
0011110615169
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 container (190 g)

What the Data Says About

Chef Salad by Kroger carries a composite safety score of 85/100, which we classify as "Caution" on our four-tier shelf-label framework. The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Our scan identified 1 flagged ingredient in this product — components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, Chef Salad is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Chef Salad
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 85/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score Not available OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Romaine Lettuce
2
Homestyle Ranch Dressing
3
Soybean
4
Canola Oil
5
Water
6
Distilled Vinegar
7
Buttermilk
8
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
9
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
10
Egg Yolk
11
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
12
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
13
Onion
14
Corn Starch
15
Xanthan Gum
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FORMULATION AID, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Approved
16
Green Onion
17
Chives
18
Natural Flavors
19
Black Pepper
20
Swiss Cheese
21
Pasteurized Milk
22
Cheese Culture
23
Enzymes
24
Cellulose
Emulsifier
Safe
25
To Prevent Caking
26
Chicken Breast Meat With Rib Meat
27
Cultured Sugar And Vinegar
28
Potato Starch
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
29
Sea salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
30
Ham With Natural Juices
31
Ham Cured With Water
32
Or Less Of Sugar
33
Potassium Lactate
FLAVOR ENHANCER
GRAS
34
Sodium Diacetate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
35
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
36
Sodium Nitrite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
37
Sodium Phosphates
38
Carrots
39
Red Cabbage
40
Egg
41
Milk

Full Ingredient List

romaine lettuce, homestyle ranch dressing (soybean and/or canola oil, water, distilled vinegar, dehydrated buttermilk, contains less than 2% of: sugar, salt, dried egg yolk, lactic acid, dehydrated garlic, dehydrated onion, corn starch, xanthan gum, dehydrated green onion, dehydrated chives, natural flavors, black pepper), swiss cheese (swiss cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], powdered cellulose (to prevent caking]), chicken breast meat with rib meat (chicken breast meat with rib meat, water, cultured sugar and vinegar, potato starch, sea salt, natural flavors), ham with natural juices (ham cured with water, contains 2% or less of sugar, salt, potassium lactate, sodium diacetate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, sodium phosphates), carrots, red cabbage. contains: egg, milk.

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Related

Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial