Loaded baked mashed potatoes

by Idahoan

20
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 4 flagged ingredients

Loaded baked mashed potatoes by Idahoan receives a safety score of 20/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 4 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
0029700021306
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1/4 cup (28 g)

What the Data Says About

Loaded baked mashed potatoes by Idahoan carries a composite safety score of 20/100, 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 4 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, Loaded baked mashed potatoes 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 Loaded baked mashed potatoes
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 20/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 4 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
Idaho Potatoes
2
Vegetable Oil
3
The Following: Coconut
4
Soybean
5
Organic Sunflower
6
Cottonseed
7
Canola
8
Corn Syrup Solids
9
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
10
Four Cheese Blend
11
Cheddar Cheese Blend
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
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
14
Reduced Lactose Whey
15
Canola Oil
16
Cheddar And Blue Cheese
17
Cultured Milk
18
Enzymes
19
Disodium Phosphate
20
Whey Protein Concentrate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
21
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
22
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
23
Artificial Colors
24
Yellow No. 6 And Yellow No.5
25
Romano And Parmesan Cheeses
26
Pasteurized Milk
27
Cheese Cultures
28
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
29
Textured Vegetable Protein
30
Soy Flour
31
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
32
Red 3
Avoid Banned (FDA revoked Jan 2025)
33
Natural And Artificial Flavors
34
Including Smoke Flavor
35
Nonfat Dry Milk
36
Potassium Chloride
ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
37
Onion Powder
38
Sour Cream
39
Cream
40
Cultures
41
Calcium Stearate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
42
Mono And Diglycerides
43
Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate
44
Spice
45
Autolyzed yeast extract
Flavoring
Certain People Should Avoid
46
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
47
Disodium Inosinate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Approved
48
Disodium Guanylate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Approved
49
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
50
Artificial Color
51
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
52
Preserve Freshness
53
Sodium Bisulfite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
54
L-glutamic Acid
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
GRAS
55
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
56
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
57
Soy Lecithin
58
Mixed Tocopherols
59
And Less Than 2% Silicon Dioxide Added As An Anticaking Agent

Full Ingredient List

Idaho potatoes, vegetable oil (contains one or more of the following: coconut, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, canola), corn syrup solids, salt, four cheese blend (cheddar cheese blend [whey, maltodextrin, reduced lactose whey, canola oil, cheddar and blue cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), salt, disodium phosphate, whey protein concentrate, citric acid, lactic acid, artificial colors (yellow no. 6 and yellow no.5)], romano and parmesan cheeses [pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, disodium phosphate]), sugar, textured vegetable protein (soy flour, caramel color, red 3), natural and artificial flavors (including smoke flavor), nonfat dry milk, potassium chloride, onion powder, whey, sour cream (cream, nonfat dry milk, cultures), calcium stearate, maltodextrin, mono and diglycerides, calcium stearoyl lactylate, spice, autolyzed yeast extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, dextrose, artificial color, sodium acid pyrophosphate (preserve freshness), sodium bisulfite (preserve freshness), l-glutamic acid, yellow 5, yellow 6, soy lecithin, citric acid (preserve freshness), mixed tocopherols (preserve freshness), and less than 2% silicon dioxide added as an anticaking agent.

Categories

Plant-based foods and beverages Plant-based foods Fruits and vegetables based foods Cereals and potatoes Vegetables based foods Meals Vegetables Purées Mixed vegetables Potato preparations Mashed potatoes

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