Avoid

Cocktail sauce, cocktail

Scores 45/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 3 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0041497063376 · Serving size 1/4 cup (60 g)

The verdict

Cocktail sauce, cocktail scores 45/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 45 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 3 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.

45/100
Avoid safety score
3
flagged ingredients of 45 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
C
Nutri-Score nutrition grade

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 Cocktail sauce, cocktail

Cocktail sauce, cocktail carries a composite safety score of 45/100, 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. 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 3 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, Cocktail sauce, cocktail 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 Cocktail sauce, cocktail
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 45/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 3 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.

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 35,367 products we've scored in the Condiments category, the average safety score is 98.6/100. Cocktail sauce, cocktail scores 53.6 points below that category average (45/100 vs. 98.6/100), so it is a comparatively weaker pick for shoppers screening within that category specifically, rather than against the product catalog as a whole.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Tomato Juice
2
Water
3
Tomato Juice
4
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
5
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
6
Vitamin C
7
Prepared Horseradish
8
Horseradish
9
Vinegar
10
Tomato Paste
11
Champagne Vinegar
12
White Wine Vinegar
13
Potassium Metabisulfite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT
GRAS
14
To Protect Color
15
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
16
Liquid Sucrose
17
Brown Sugar
18
Corn Starch
19
Horseradish
20
Wasabi Powder
21
Mustard Powder
22
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
23
Artificial Colors
24
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
25
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
26
Onion
27
Low Sodium Sea Salt
28
Sea Salts
29
Natural Flavor
30
Magnesium Carbonate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
31
Anti-caking Agent
32
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
33
Spices
34
Chili Powder
35
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
36
Worcestershire Sauce
37
Molasses
38
Corn Syrup
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, TEXTURIZER
Cut Back GRAS
39
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
40
Anchovies
41
Natural Flavors
42
Soy
43
Tamarind
44
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
45
Spice Extractives

Full Ingredient List

Tomato juice (water, concentrated tomato juice, salt, ascorbic acid [vitamin c]), prepared horseradish (horseradish, vinegar, water, salt), tomato paste, water, champagne vinegar (white wine vinegar, potassium metabisulfite [to protect color]), sugar, liquid sucrose (sugar, water), brown sugar, vinegar, corn starch, dried horseradish, wasabi powder (horseradish, mustard powder, corn starch, citric acid, ascorbic acid, artificial colors [fd&c yellow #5, fd&c blue #1]), dried onion, low sodium sea salt (sea salts, natural flavor, magnesium carbonate [anti-caking agent]), dried garlic, salt, spices, chili powder (spices, salt, garlic), worcestershire sauce (vinegar, molasses, corn syrup, water, salt, caramel color, sugar, spices, anchovies, natural flavors (soy), tamarind), xanthan gum, spice extractives.

Categories

Condiments Sauces Dips Groceries

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.