Safe

Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella

by Hot Pockets

Open Food Facts label for barcode 0043695075137 · Hot Pockets · Frozen foods. Screening numbers and flags live in the verdict band below. This hero only situates the source record.

Barcode 0043695075137 · Serving size 1 sandwich (127 g)

The verdict

Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella by Hot Pockets scores 95/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 69 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 1 ingredient is flagged for caution. The source parser split this into a very long 69-component record, beginning with Enriched Flour, Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour. That density can include amounts and label fragments, so verify the physical label before relying on ingredient order or completeness. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination.

95/100
Safe safety score
1
One flagged · of 69 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
B
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.

Composite profile score

One verdict from three independent sources

70/100

Grade B

Ingredient Safety

95/100

FDA/CSPI flagged-ingredient screening

Processing Level

NOVA 4

Ultra-processed foods

Nutrition Grade

B

Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition grade

Weighted 50% ingredient safety / 25% processing level / 25% nutrition grade. A dimension with no data for this product (common: source coverage is partial) is dropped and its weight redistributes across the remaining dimensions, so missing data never silently lowers the score. See the full benchmark table.

95075137 · Open Food Facts · July 2026

Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella label screening desk

SCORE-SAFE 95/100 FLAG-ONE 1 flagged LEN-DENSE 69 ing. REG-SPARSE 25% reg. NOVA-G4 G4 ultra NUTRI-B Nutri-B RANK-SHORT Len top 6% LEAD-FLAG Caramel Coloring PHOTO-FINISH Philly steak & · ±0 BOOK-OFF …075137 · July 2026

17 of 69 parsed ingredients carry FDA SAFFA or CSPI coverage (lead: Caramel Coloring). Source sheet 95075137 · Open Food Facts · July 2026. The screening score and flag counts are in the verdict band above. This desk is the provenance stamp, not a second scorecard. Methodology · Read with nearest score peer: Philly steak & cheese seasoned crust stuffed sandwiches · Nearest score peer is Philly steak & cheese seasoned crust stuffed sandwiches at the same screening score.

Screening model notes

How Nutri-Score, NOVA, and list length read this record

Within the four-tier shelf-label framework this site publishes, the composite for this product falls in the highest band. That band is defined by a threshold on the derived score alone: it is where labels land once components carrying caution-or-worse registry ratings contribute little or nothing to the deduction. The band is a summary of what the screened registries return for the components that were parsed, so it inherits their coverage gaps — a component absent from both registries neither raises nor lowers the figure. The threshold and the weighting behind it are set out on the methodology page.

The Nutri-Score algorithm returned its second band for this label. That grade typically describes a nutrition panel whose favourable components register clearly in the model without fully offsetting its energy or sodium terms. Because the calculation is a single points balance rather than a set of independent thresholds, a strong fibre or protein figure can lift a panel into this band even where one penalised nutrient sits high. The grade summarises the declared panel alone and carries no information about the additive ratings screened below.

The declared list is among the longer ones in this catalogue. A component set this wide means the screen returns many individual ratings, and the composite accumulates a large number of small contributions instead of turning on a handful of entries. At this length the per-component table below is substantially more informative than the single figure, because the figure compresses a great deal of variation into one number.

Cross-brand screening score neighbourhood

1. Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella: 95/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #11. Italian Style Meatballs &…95/1002. Philly steak & cheese seasoned crust stuffed sandwiches: 95/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #22. Philly steak & cheese sea…95/1003. Philly steak & Cheese: 95/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #33. Philly steak & Cheese95/1004. The Carolina Nut Co., Peanuts, Carolina Bbq: 95/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #44. The Carolina Nut Co., Pea…95/1005. Grand Dessert Premium European Dessert: 95/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #55. Grand Dessert Premium Eur…95/100
High-band neighbours for Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella (95/100) outside Hot Pockets.
Chart values as text

Unit: PlainFoodSafe screening score out of 100. Data current as of July 2026.

Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella
95/100
Philly steak & cheese seasoned crust stuffed sandwiches
95/100
Philly steak & Cheese
95/100
The Carolina Nut Co., Peanuts, Carolina Bbq
95/100
Grand Dessert Premium European Dessert
95/100

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 24,982 products we've scored in the Frozen foods category, the average safety score is 92.9/100. Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella scores 2.1 points above that category average (95/100 vs. 92.9/100), so it is roughly typical for shoppers screening within that category specifically, rather than against the product catalog as a whole.

Ingredient-list length vs other Frozen foods products

Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella lists 69 ingredients on its label

69 94th percentile a longer ingredient list than 94% of the 7,008 products we track

0–2: 11 products (0%). Below this entry. 2–4: 54 products (1%). Below this entry. 4–6: 54 products (1%). Below this entry. 6–8: 66 products (1%). Below this entry. 8–10: 102 products (1%). Below this entry. 10–12: 112 products (2%). Below this entry. 12–14: 184 products (3%). Below this entry. 14–16: 205 products (3%). Below this entry. 16–18: 245 products (3%). Below this entry. 18–20: 284 products (4%). Below this entry. 20–22: 264 products (4%). Below this entry. 22–24: 298 products (4%). Below this entry. 24–26: 247 products (4%). Below this entry. 26–28: 271 products (4%). Below this entry. 28–30: 284 products (4%). Below this entry. 30–32: 294 products (4%). Below this entry. 32–34: 325 products (5%). Below this entry. 34–36: 319 products (5%). Below this entry. 36–38: 314 products (4%). Below this entry. 38–40: 283 products (4%). Below this entry. 40–42: 2,792 products (40%). This entry sits in this band. This product 0 42 every published Frozen foods product, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more products. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Distribution as text

7,008 products, bucketed in bands of 2. This entry: 69 (94th percentile). Data current as of July 2026.

0–2
11 products (0%)
2–4
54 products (1%)
4–6
54 products (1%)
6–8
66 products (1%)
8–10
102 products (1%)
10–12
112 products (2%)
12–14
184 products (3%)
14–16
205 products (3%)
16–18
245 products (3%)
18–20
284 products (4%)
20–22
264 products (4%)
22–24
298 products (4%)
24–26
247 products (4%)
26–28
271 products (4%)
28–30
284 products (4%)
30–32
294 products (4%)
32–34
325 products (5%)
34–36
319 products (5%)
36–38
314 products (4%)
38–40
283 products (4%)
40 and above
2,792 products (40%)

Source Open Food Facts, product label ingredient lists · July 2026

Ingredient-list length is a descriptive property of the label, not a safety rating. A longer list is not automatically worse and a shorter one is not automatically better; the count is shown so the label can be placed against a comparable population. The comparison here runs against the 7,008 Frozen foods products we publish with a parsed label, not against the whole catalogue, because list length varies far more between categories than within one.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

How the 95/100 score is built

Screening starts at 100 and subtracts severity-weighted FDA SAFFA / CSPI flags (1 flagged of 69 labeled). The floor is 0 when deductions exceed 100.

1
Enriched Flour
2
Wheat Flour
3
Malted Barley Flour
4
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
5
Iron
6
Thiamine Mononitrate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
7
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
8
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
9
Water
10
Cooked Italian Style Meatball
11
Pork
12
Textured Vegetable Protein
13
Soy Protein Concentrate
14
Caramel Coloring
Coloring
Avoid Approved (color additive, GRAS)
15
Breadcrumbs
16
Bleached Wheat Flour
17
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
18
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
19
Yeast
20
Less Than 2% Of Spices
21
Paprika
22
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
23
Garlic Powder
24
Yeast Extract
25
Flavorings
26
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
27
Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese
28
Pasteurized Organic Part Skim Milk
29
Nonfat Milk
30
Modified Food Starch
31
Cultures
32
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
33
Enzymes
34
Ingredients Not In Regular Mozzarella Cheese
35
Tomato Paste
36
Soybean Oil
37
2% Or Less Sugar
38
Seasoning
39
Bread Crumb
40
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
41
Tomato Powder
42
Spice
43
Onion
44
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
45
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
46
Natural Flavor
47
Fractionated Palm Oil
48
Dough Conditioner Blend
49
Calcium Sulfate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, LEAVENING AGENT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
50
L-cysteine Hydrochloride
51
Tricalcium Phosphate
52
Romano Cheese With Flavor
53
Romano Cheese
54
Organic Cultured Cow's Milk
55
Enzyme Modified Romano Cheese
56
Soy Lecithin
57
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Other
Safe
58
Spices
59
Methylcellulose
60
Natural Flavor
61
Corn Starch
62
Natural Flavors
63
Datem
Emulsifier
Safe
64
Medium Chain Triglycerides
65
Organic Onions
66
Natural Butter Flavor
67
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
68
Soy Flour
69
Egg Whites

Full Ingredient List

Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, cooked italian style meatball (pork, water, textured vegetable protein [soy protein concentrate, caramel color], breadcrumbs [bleached wheat flour, dextrose, salt, yeast], less than 2% of spices, paprika, salt, potassium chloride, garlic powder, yeast extract, natural flavorings, sodium tripolyphosphate), reduced fat mozzarella cheese (pasteurized part skim milk, nonfat milk, modified food starch*, cultures, salt, vitamin a palmitate, enzymes, *ingredients not in regular mozzarella cheese), tomato paste, soybean oil, 2% or less sugar, seasoning (bread crumb [bleached wheat flour, dextrose, yeast, salt], dried garlic, tomato powder, spice, salt, dextrose, dried onion, maltodextrin, citric acid, natural flavor), fractionated palm oil, modified food starch, yeast, salt, dough conditioner blend (calcium sulfate, salt, l-cysteine hydrochloride, garlic powder, tricalcium phosphate, enzymes), romano cheese with flavor (romano cheese [cultured cow's milk, salt, enzymes], enzyme modified romano cheese [romano cheese {cultured cow's milk, water, salt, enzymes}, salt]), soy lecithin, sodium stearoyl lactylate, spices, dried garlic, methylcellulose, flavor (maltodextrin, modified corn starch, natural flavors, datem, medium chain triglycerides), dried onions, seasoning (maltodextrin, modified corn starch, butter flavor), whey, maltodextrin, potassium chloride, citric acid, soy flour, egg whites.

Other products containing 2% Or Less Sugar

2% Or Less Sugar is the least common ingredient on this label, appearing in 4 products across the catalog. See its safety profile.

Categories

Frozen foods Meals

High-score cross-brand comparables for Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella

Neighbours outside Hot Pockets with screening scores in the same high band as Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella (95/100 here). The 5 same-brand links above stay within Hot Pockets; these peers cross brands.

Follow the flagged-label evidence

Follow the flagged-label evidence

Caramel Coloring is the first flagged ingredient selected from Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella's parsed label. Start with that ingredient’s source context, then compare the rest of this 69-ingredient record.

  • Inspect the FDA SAFFA and CSPI context attached to Caramel Coloring. Open Caramel Coloring
  • Compare Italian Style Meatballs & Mozzarella's 1 flagged ingredients with a product from the same score neighbourhood. Compare labels
  • Check how caution flags contribute to the derived screening score before drawing a dietary conclusion. Read the method

This page describes published ingredient-list and source coverage. It is not dietary or medical advice.

Barcode 0043695075137: product data from Open Food Facts (July 2026). Screening from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine where attached. Figures are computed from those sources, not editor-typed. Methodology. Reference only, not dietary or medical advice.