Black forest ham

80
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 2 flagged ingredients

Black forest ham receives a safety score of 80/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 2 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
0030223105565
Nutri-Score
c
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 SANDWICH (142 g)

What the Data Says About

Black forest ham carries a composite safety score of 80/100, which we classify as "Caution" 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 2 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, Black forest ham 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 C 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 Black forest ham
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 80/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 2 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score C OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Black Forest Ham With Natural Juices
2
Cured With: Water
3
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
4
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
5
Sea salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
6
Less Than 2% Of Sodium Phosphate
7
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
8
Sodium Erythorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Safe GRAS
9
Sodium Nitrite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
10
Marble Bread
11
Enriched Wheat Flour
12
Malted Barley Flour
13
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
14
Ascorbic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
15
Reduced Iron
16
Thiamine Mononitrate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
17
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
18
Enzyme
19
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
20
Water
21
Light Rye Flour
22
Yeast
23
Cultured Rye Flour
24
Caraway Seeds
25
Canola Oil
26
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
27
Cultured Wheat Starch
28
Rye Flour
29
Wheat Malt Flour
30
Enzymes
31
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
32
Pregelatinized Rye Flour
33
Malted Barley Extract
34
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
35
Provolone Cheese
36
Pasteurized Whole Milk
37
Cheese Cultures
38
Salt And Enzymes
39
Green Leaf Lettuce

Full Ingredient List

Black forest ham with natural juices (cured with: water, sugar, dextrose, sea salt, less than 2% of sodium phosphate, salt, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite), marble bread (enriched wheat flour [malted barley flour, niacin, ascorbic acid, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, enzyme, folic acid], water, light rye flour, yeast, cultured rye flour, caraway seeds, sea salt, canola oil, malted barley flour, caramel color, cultured wheat starch, rye flour, wheat malt flour, enzymes, citric acid, pregelatinized rye flour, ascorbic acid, malted barley extract, lactic acid), provolone cheese (pasteurized whole milk, cheese cultures, salt and enzymes), green leaf lettuce.

Categories

Sandwiches

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