Publix Cesar Salad kit

by Publix

95
Safe
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Publix Cesar Salad kit by Publix 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
0041415005860
Nutri-Score
a
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 Salad (400 g)

What the Data Says About

Publix Cesar Salad kit by Publix 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, Publix Cesar Salad kit 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 A 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 Publix Cesar Salad kit
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 A OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Romaine Lettuce
2
Soybean Oil
3
Water
4
Corn-cider Vinegar
5
Parmesan Cheese
6
Pasteurized Part-skim Milk
7
Cheese Cultures
8
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
9
Enzymes
10
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
11
Egg Yolk
12
Spices
13
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
14
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
15
Lemon Juice Concentrate
16
Msg
17
Anchovies
18
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
19
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
20
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
21
Calcium Disodium Edta
22
Wheat Flour
23
Canola Oil
24
Olive Oil
25
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
26
Yeast
27
Garlic Powder
28
Romano Cheese
29
Milk
30
Cheese Culture
31
Dehydrated Parsley
32
Onion
33
Disodium Inosinate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Approved
34
Disodium Guanylate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Approved
35
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
36
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
37
Reduced Iron
38
Thiamine Mononitrate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
39
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
40
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved

Full Ingredient List

romaine lettuce, soybean oil, water, corn-cider vinegar, parmesan cheese, pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, salt, sugar, egg yolk, spices, citric acid, dried garlic, lemon juice concentrate, monosodium glutamate, anchovies, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, caramel color, calcium disodium edta, wheat flour, canola oil, olive oil, sugar, whey, yeast, garlic powder, romano cheese, milk, cheese culture, parsley, onion, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, niacin, ascorbic acid, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid

Categories

Plant-based foods and beverages Plant-based foods

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