Flavored Snack Mix, Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, Double Cheddar, Parmesan

by Cheetos

0
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 5 flagged ingredients

Flavored Snack Mix, Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, Double Cheddar, Parmesan by Cheetos receives a safety score of 0/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 5 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
0028400240123
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 CUP | ABOUT (28 g)

What the Data Says About

Flavored Snack Mix, Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, Double Cheddar, Parmesan by Cheetos carries a composite safety score of 0/100, 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 5 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, Flavored Snack Mix, Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, Double Cheddar, Parmesan 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 Flavored Snack Mix, Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, Double Cheddar, Parmesan
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 0/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 5 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
Cheetos Brand Puffs Double Cheddar Flavored Snacks:
2
Enriched Corn Meal
3
Corn Meal
4
Ferrous Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
5
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
6
Thiamin Mononitrate
7
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
8
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
9
Vegetable Oil
10
Corn
11
Canola
12
Sunflower Oil
13
Double Cheddar Seasoning
14
Cheddar Cheese
15
Milk
16
Cheese Cultures
17
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
18
Enzymes
19
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
20
Canola Oil
21
Natural And Artificial Flavors
22
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
23
Made From Corn
24
Msg
25
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
26
Artificial Color
27
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
28
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
29
And Salt
30
Cheetos Brand Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks:
31
Cheese Seasoning
32
Whey Protein Concentrate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
33
. Cheetos Brand Grid-shaped Nacho Cheese Flavored Snacks:
34
Nacho Cheese Seasoning
35
Buttermilk
36
Romano Cheese
37
Cow's Milk
38
Onion Powder
39
Dextrose
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Cut Back GRAS
40
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
41
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
42
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
43
Tomato Powder
44
Spices
45
Sodium Caseinate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
46
Lactose
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
47
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
48
Garlic Powder
49
Red And Green Bell Pepper Powder
50
And Skim Milk
51
Cheetos Brand Mini Puffs Parmesan Flavored Snacks:
52
Parmesan Seasoning
53
Parmesan Cheese
54
Part-skim Milk
55
Skim Milk
56
Natural Flavors
57
Yeast Extract
58
Blue Cheese
59
Spice
60
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
61
And Garlic Powder

Full Ingredient List

Cheetos Brand Puffs Double Cheddar Flavored Snacks:(Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Double Cheddar Seasoning (Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Whey, Canola Oil, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Yellow 6], Lactic Acid), And Salt.) Cheetos Brand Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks: (Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Cheese Seasoning (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Natural And Artificial Flavors, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate, Monosodium Glutamate, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Artificial Color [Yellow 6]), And Salt). Cheetos Brand Grid-Shaped Nacho Cheese Flavored Snacks: (Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Nacho Cheese Seasoning (Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Salt, Whey, Canola Oil, Monosodium Glutamate, Buttermilk, Romano Cheese [Cow'S Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Onion Powder, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Dextrose, Artificial Color [Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5], Tomato Powder, Spices, Sodium Caseinate, Lactose, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Red And Green Bell Pepper Powder, And Skim Milk).) Cheetos Brand Mini Puffs Parmesan Flavored Snacks: (Enriched Corn Meal (Corn Meal, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Vegetable Oil (Corn, Canola, And/Or Sunflower Oil), Parmesan Seasoning (Whey, Parmesan Cheese [Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Salt, Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Skim Milk, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Yeast Extract, Blue Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Onion Powder, Citric Acid, Lactose, Lactic Acid, Spice, Buttermilk, Artificial Color [Yellow 5 Lake], And Garlic Powder).)

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