CHEDDAR JALAPENO POPCORN

by CHESTER'S

25
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 3 flagged ingredients

CHEDDAR JALAPENO POPCORN by CHESTER'S 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
0028400768986
Nutri-Score
d
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
28g

What the Data Says About

CHEDDAR JALAPENO POPCORN by CHESTER'S 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, CHEDDAR JALAPENO POPCORN 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 D 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 JALAPENO POPCORN
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 D OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Popcorn
2
Vegetable Oil
3
Canola
4
Corn
5
Sunflower Oil
6
Cheddar Cheese
7
Milk
8
Cheese Cultures
9
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
10
Enzymes
11
Corn Maltodextrin
12
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
13
Potassium Salt
14
Natural And Artificial Flavors
15
Onion Powder
16
Buttermilk
17
Corn Starch
18
Romano Cheese
19
Cow's Milk
20
Whey Protein Concentrate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
21
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
22
Msg
23
Garlic Powder
24
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
25
Artificial Color
26
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
27
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
28
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
29
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
30
Skim Milk
31
Spices
32
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
33
Malic Acid
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SYNERGIST
Safe GRAS
34
Jalapeño Peppers
35
Disodium Inosinate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Approved
36
Disodium Guanylate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Approved
37
Milk Ingredients

Full Ingredient List

Popcorn, vegetable oil (canola, corn, and/or sunflower oil), cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), corn maltodextrin, salt, whey, potassium salt, natural and artificial flavors, onion powder, buttermilk, corn starch, Romano cheese (cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, sugar, monosodium glutamate, garlic powder, lactose, artificial color (yellow 6 lake, blue 1, red 40), dextrose, skim milk, spices, citric acid, malic acid, jalapeño peppers, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate. Contains milk ingredients.

Categories

Snacks Popcorn

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