Caution

PF CHANGS Pepper Beef, 44 OZ

Scores 80/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 2 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0031000670269 · Serving size 1/4 Package (312 g) (312 g)

The verdict

PF CHANGS Pepper Beef, 44 OZ scores 80/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 50 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 2 ingredients are flagged for caution. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination; check official notices and the product label for current decisions.

80/100
Caution safety score
2
flagged ingredients of 50 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
0031000670269
Barcode (UPC/EAN)

Computed directly from OpenFoodFacts ingredient data cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. See our methodology for the scoring formula.

What the Data Says About PF CHANGS Pepper Beef, 44 OZ

PF CHANGS Pepper Beef, 44 OZ 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. This score is a transparent derived index we compute from that public data, not an official FDA rating or endorsement; see the Methodology page for the exact weighting.

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, PF CHANGS Pepper Beef, 44 OZ 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.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for PF CHANGS Pepper Beef, 44 OZ
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 Not available OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Dehydrated Vegetables
2
Broccoli
3
Carrots
4
Shiitake Mushrooms
5
Organic Onions
6
Sauce
7
Water
8
Dehydrated Soy Sauce
9
Wheat
10
Soybeans
11
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
12
Alcohol
13
Vinegar
14
Michiu Wine
15
White Wine
16
Natural Flavor
17
Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Metabisulfite
18
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
19
Canola Oil
20
Less Than 2% Of: Modified Corn Starch
21
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
22
Molasses
23
Organic Ginger
24
Chili Paste
25
Red Chili Peppers
26
Distilled Vinegar
27
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
28
Black Pepper
29
Palm Oil
30
Spices
31
Sesame Oil
32
Wheat Flour
33
Soybean Oil
34
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
35
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
36
Cooking Wine
37
Rice
38
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
39
Corn Starch
40
Sodium Benzoate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
41
Cooked Beef
42
Water And Food Starch Product
43
Beef
44
Vegetable Oil
45
Corn Starch
46
Less Than 2% Of: Sake Wine
47
Wine
48
Potato Starch
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
49
BHT
Caution GRAS
50
Soy

Full Ingredient List

Vegetables (Broccoli, Carrots, Shiitake Mushrooms, Onions), Sauce (Water, Soy Sauce [Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol, Vinegar], Michiu Wine [White Wine, Natural Flavor, Salt, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Metabisulfite], Sugar, Canola Oil, Less Than 2% Of: Corn Starch, Garlic, Molasses, Ginger, Chili Paste [Red Chili Peppers, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Xanthan Gum], Black Pepper, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Spices, Salt, Soybeans, Sesame Oil, Wheat Flour, Soybean Oil, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Cooking Wine [Rice, Water, Salt], Lactic Acid, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Benzoate), Cooked Beef, Water and Food Starch Product (Beef, Water, Vegetable Oil, Corn Starch, Less Than 2% Of: Sake Wine [Wine, Salt], Soy Sauce [Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol, Vinegar, Lactic Acid], Potato Starch, Salt, Sugar, Natural Flavor, BHT). CONTAINS: SOY, WHEAT

Data Sources

Data as of May 2026. 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.

Product data from Open Food Facts; additive safety from the FDA SAFFA inventory and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details. Compiled by PlainFoodSafe

Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Product figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, and CSPI Chemical Cuisine data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.