Sausage Links

by MorningStar Farms

95
Safe
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Sausage Links by MorningStar Farms receives a safety score of 95/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient 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
0028989971104
Nutri-Score
b
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
2 Links (45 g)

What the Data Says About

Sausage Links by MorningStar Farms carries a composite safety score of 95/100, which we classify as "Safe" 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 1 flagged ingredient 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, Sausage Links 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 B 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 Sausage Links
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 95/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score B OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Water
2
Wheat Gluten
FIRMING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
3
Corn Oil
4
Egg Whites
5
Soy Protein Concentrate
6
Or Less Of Potato Starch
7
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
8
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
9
Soy Protein Isolate
10
Methylcellulose
11
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
12
Canola Oil
13
Spices
14
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Flavoring
Certain People Should Avoid
15
Soy
16
Wheat
17
And Corn
18
Yeast Extract
19
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
20
Guar Gum
21
Natural And Artificial Flavors
22
Autolyzed yeast extract
Flavoring
Certain People Should Avoid
23
Onion Powder
24
Soy Sauce Powder
25
Dehydrated Soy Sauce
26
Soybeans
27
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
28
Disodium Inosinate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Approved
29
Disodium Guanylate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Approved
30
Soybean Oil
31
Sunflower Oil
32
Xanthan Gum
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FORMULATION AID, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Approved
33
Sesame Oil. Vitamins And Minerals: Niacinamide
34
Iron
35
Ferrous Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
36
Vitamin B1
37
Thiamin Mononitrate
38
Vitamin B6
39
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
40
Vitamin B2
41
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
42
Vitamin B12

Full Ingredient List

Water, wheat gluten, corn oil, egg whites, soy protein concentrate, contains 2% or less of potato starch, salt, sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate, methylcellulose, sugar, canola oil, spices, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (soy, wheat, and corn), yeast extract, caramel color, guar gum, natural and artificial flavors, autolyzed yeast extract, onion powder, soy sauce powder (soy sauce [soybeans, salt, wheat], maltodextrin), disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, soybean oil, sunflower oil, xanthan gum, sesame oil. vitamins and minerals: niacinamide, iron (ferrous sulfate), vitamin b1 (thiamin mononitrate), vitamin b6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin b2 (riboflavin), vitamin b12.

Categories

Plant-based foods and beverages Plant-based foods Frozen foods Frozen plant-based foods Meat alternatives Meat analogues Frozen plant-based foods mixes Vegetarian sausages

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