Lean cuisine, comfort, cheddar bacon chicken

80
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 2 flagged ingredients

Lean cuisine, comfort, cheddar bacon chicken receives a safety score of 80/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 2 ingredients 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
0013800442260
Nutri-Score
a
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 PACKAGE (226 g)

What the Data Says About

Lean cuisine, comfort, cheddar bacon chicken carries a composite safety score of 80/100, 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 2 flagged ingredients 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, Lean cuisine, comfort, cheddar bacon chicken 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. The Nutri-Score grade of A reflects nutritional balance — calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium versus fiber, protein, and produce content — which again is a distinct dimension from additive safety and worth weighing alongside the scores above.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Lean cuisine, comfort, cheddar bacon chicken
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 80/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 2 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score A OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Broccoli
2
Cooked White Meat Chicken
3
Skim Milk
4
Water
5
Cheddar Club Cheese
6
Cheddar Cheese
7
Cultured Milk
8
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
9
Enzymes
10
Annatto Color
11
2% Or Less Of Cheddar Cheese
12
Milk
13
Cheese Cultures
14
Monterey Jack Cheddar Cheese Blend
15
Monterey Jack Cheese
16
Pasteurized Milk
17
Cheese Culture
18
Annatto {Color}
19
Modified Food Starch
20
Bacon
21
Cured With: Water
22
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
23
Smoke Flavoring
24
Sodium Phosphate
25
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
26
Sodium Nitrite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
27
Soybean Oil
28
Isolated soy protein
Other
Safe
29
Seasoning
30
Chicken Broth
31
Chicken Powder
32
Natural Flavor
33
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
34
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
35
Vinegar
36
Cellulose Gel
37
Molasses
38
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
39
Calcium Lactate
DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FIRMING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LEAVENING AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
40
Spices
41
Tamarind
42
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
43
Organic Onions
44
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS

Full Ingredient List

Broccoli, cooked white meat chicken, skim milk, water, cheddar club cheese (cheddar cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], water, salt, annatto color), 2% or less of cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, annatto color), monterey jack cheddar cheese blend (monterey jack cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], cheddar cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annatto {color}]), modified food starch, bacon (cured with: water, salt, sugar, smoke flavoring, sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite), soybean oil, salt, isolated soy protein, seasoning (dried chicken broth, chicken powder, natural flavor), maltodextrin, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, vinegar, cellulose gel, molasses, lactic acid, calcium lactate, spices, tamarind, smoke flavoring, natural flavor, sugar, caramel color, onions, garlic.

Categories

Frozen foods

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