this pumpkin walks into a bar... CEREAL BARS
by Trader Joe's
Scores 95/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 1 flagged ingredient identified.
The verdict
this pumpkin walks into a bar... CEREAL BARS by Trader Joe's scores 95/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 51 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 1 ingredient is flagged for caution. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination; check official notices and the product label for current decisions.
- 95/100
- Safe safety score
- 1
- flagged ingredient of 51 analyzed
- Group 4
- Ultra-processed
- D
- 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 this pumpkin walks into a bar... CEREAL BARS
this pumpkin walks into a bar... CEREAL BARS by Trader Joe's 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. 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 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, this pumpkin walks into a bar... CEREAL BARS 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 D 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
| 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 | D | OpenFoodFacts |
Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.
Ingredient Safety Analysis
Full Ingredient List
PUMPKIN FILLING (BROWN RICE SYRUP, ORGANIC DRIED CANE SYRUP, APPLE POWDER, PUMPKIN, GLYCERIN, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, PECTIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, WATER, CITRIC ACID, CINNAMON, NUTMEG, ANNATTO EXTRACT FOR COLOR, GINGER, ALLSPICE), WHEAT FLAVOR, EVAPORATED CANE SYRUP, INVERT CANE SYRUP, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, OAT FLOUR, WHEAT BRAN, NATURAL FLAVORS (BUTTER, VANILLA, CITRUS), WHEAT GLUTEN, HONEY, CINNAMON, ORGANIC NONFAT DRY MILK, BAKING SODA, CREAM OF TARTAR, MALTODEXTRIN (FROM CORN), SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), SEA SALT, CARRAGEENAN, CLOVES, SOYBEAN OIL, ANNATTO AND TURMERIC (FOR COLOR). NUTRITION BLEND: NIACIN, VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE), RIBOFLAVIN, VITAMIN B1 (THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE), FOLIC ACID, SODIUM SELENATE, VITAMIN B12 (CYANOCOBALAMINE).
Categories
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.
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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.