Cheddar Chex Mix

by Chex

50
Concern
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 2 flagged ingredients

Cheddar Chex Mix by Chex receives a safety score of 50/100 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
0016000206984
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
0.5 cup (31 g)

What the Data Says About

Cheddar Chex Mix by Chex 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.

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, Cheddar Chex Mix 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 E 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 Cheddar Chex Mix
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 E OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Degermed Yellow Corn Meal
2
Whole Wheat
3
Enriched Flour
4
Wheat Flour
5
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
6
Iron
7
Thiamin Mononitrate
8
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
9
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
10
Vegetable Oil
11
Soybean
12
Palm
13
High Oleic Soybean
14
High Oleic Canola
15
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
16
Or Less Of: Salt
17
Whey
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FORMULATION AID, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
18
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
19
Sour Cream
20
Cultures
21
Nonfat Milk
22
Cream
23
Yeast
24
Yeast Extract
25
Baking Soda
26
Onion Powder
27
Cheddar Cheese
28
Milk
29
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
30
Enzymes
31
Annatto Extract
32
For Color
33
Distilled Monoglycerides
34
Color
35
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
36
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
37
Sodium Sulfite
ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
GRAS
38
Yellow Corn Flour
39
Trisodium Phosphate
40
Malted Barley Extract
41
Barley Malt Syrup
42
Calcium Carbonate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
43
Natural And Artificial Flavor
44
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
45
Freshness Preserved By Bht And Tbhq

Full Ingredient List

Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Whole Wheat, Enriched Flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Vegetable Oil (soybean, palm, high oleic soybean and/or high oleic canola), Sugar, Contains 2% or less of: Salt, Whey, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sour Cream (cultures, nonfat milk, cream), Yeast, Yeast Extract, Baking Soda, Onion Powder, Cheddar Cheese (milk, salt, cultures, enzymes, annatto extract [for color]), Distilled Monoglycerides, Color (annatto extract, yellow 6, yellow 5 lake), Sodium Sulfite, Yellow Corn Flour, Trisodium Phosphate, Malted Barley Extract, Barley Malt Syrup, Calcium Carbonate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Freshness Preserved by BHT and TBHQ

Categories

Crackers

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