Cheetos mac n cheese
by Cheetos
Scores 50/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 2 flagged ingredients identified.
The verdict
Cheetos mac n cheese by Cheetos scores 50/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 48 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 2 ingredients are flagged for caution. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination; check official notices and the product label for current decisions.
- 50/100
- Concern safety score
- 2
- flagged ingredients of 48 analyzed
- Group 4
- Ultra-processed
- 0015300014961
- Barcode (UPC/EAN)
Computed directly from OpenFoodFacts ingredient data cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. See our methodology for the scoring formula.
What the Data Says About Cheetos mac n cheese
Cheetos mac n cheese by Cheetos carries a composite safety score of 50/100, which we classify as "Concern" 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. This score is a transparent derived index we compute from that public data, not an official FDA rating or endorsement; see the Methodology page for the exact weighting.
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, Cheetos mac n cheese 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
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PlainFoodSafe Score | 50/100 | FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite |
| Flagged ingredients | 2 | 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
Full Ingredient List
wheat falour, maltodextrin, whey alm oil, canola oil, cheese blend (cheddar, romano daily value* monterey jack, parmesan and blue cheeses mlk 6% cultures, salt, enzymes), salt, modified corn starch corn syrup solids, buttermilk, guar gum, silicon 8% dicode, natural and artificial flavor, monosodium glutamate, sodium caseinate, potassium chloride, onion powder, spices, lactose, jalapeno pepper", garlic 170 powder, xanthan gum, cultured nonfat milk, lactic 28% acid, autolyzed yeast extract, nonfat dry milk, annato extract (colori, sunflower oil, disodium guanylate, 15% disodium inosinate, citric acio, malic acio, blue 1, 9% caramel color, red 40, turmeric extract (color), calories 240 total fat 5g sauraled fat 1.5g sholesterol <5mg sdium 630mg re6oded sugars pmtein 7g riboflavin, folic acid, soy lecithin. "dried contains milk, soy and wheat ingredients (foood020265-l02-2)
Data Sources
Data as of May 2026. 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.
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Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Product figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, and CSPI Chemical Cuisine data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.