Chex Mix, Snack Mix

by Chex mix

25
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 3 flagged ingredients

Chex Mix, Snack Mix by Chex mix receives a safety score of 25/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 3 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
0016000483026
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 cup (31 g)

What the Data Says About

Chex Mix, Snack Mix by Chex mix carries a composite safety score of 25/100, which we classify as "Avoid" 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 3 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, Chex Mix, Snack 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 Chex Mix, Snack Mix
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 25/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 3 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
Malted Barley Flour
6
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
7
Iron
8
Thiamin Mononitrate
9
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
10
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
11
Popcorn
12
Vegetable Oil
13
Soybean
14
Organic Sunflower
15
Rice Bran
16
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
17
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
18
Or Less Of: Salt
19
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
20
Cheddar Cheese
21
Milk
22
Cheese Cultures
23
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
24
Enzymes
25
Buttermilk
26
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
27
Natural Flavor
28
Color
29
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
30
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
31
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
32
Yellow 6 Lake And Other Color Added
33
Baking Soda
34
Barley Malt Syrup
35
Organic Butter Concentrate
36
Cream
37
Distilled Monoglycerides
38
Yeast Extract
39
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
40
Trisodium Phosphate
41
Yellow Corn Flour
42
Onion Powder
43
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
44
Disodium Phosphate
45
Corn Syrup Solids
46
Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, LEAVENING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
47
Disodium Inosinate And Guanylate
48
Cheddar Cheese Powder
49
Sour Cream Solids
50
Sour Cream
51
Cultures
52
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
53
Cultured Nonfat Dry Milk Solids
54
Monocalcium Phosphate
55
Autolyzed yeast extract
Flavoring
Certain People Should Avoid
56
Enzyme Modified Butter
57
Butter
58
Spice
59
Guar Gum
60
Annatto
Coloring
Certain People Should Avoid
61
Turmeric. Freshness Preserved By Sodium Metabisulfite And Bht

Full Ingredient List

Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Whole Wheat, Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Popcorn, Vegetable Oil (Soybean, Sunflower And/Or Rice Bran), Sugar, Maltodextrin. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Dried Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Buttermilk, Whey, Natural Flavor, Color (Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake And Other Color Added), Baking Soda, Barley Malt Syrup, Butter Concentrate (Cream, Salt, Natural Flavor), Distilled Monoglycerides, Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Trisodium Phosphate, Yellow Corn Flour, Onion Powder, Calcium Carbonate, Disodium Phosphate, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Disodium Inosinate And Guanylate, Cheddar Cheese Powder (Milk, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Enzymes, Disodium Phosphate), Sour Cream Solids (Sour Cream [Cream, Cultures, Lactic Acid], Cultured Nonfat Dry Milk Solids, Citric Acid), Monocalcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Enzyme Modified Butter, Dried Butter, Spice, Guar Gum, Annatto, Turmeric. Freshness Preserved By Sodium Metabisulfite And Bht.

Categories

Snacks

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