Avoid

Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella

by J&J Snackfoods Corp.

Scores 25/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 3 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0073321072421 · Serving size 2 STICKS, ABOUT (52 g)

The verdict

Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella by J&J Snackfoods Corp. scores 25/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 46 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.

25/100
Avoid safety score
3
flagged ingredients of 46 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 Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella

Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella by J&J Snackfoods Corp. carries a composite safety score of 25/100, 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, Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella 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

Composite safety metrics for Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 25/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 3 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.

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 25,915 products we've scored in the Frozen foods category, the average safety score is 93.3/100. Mozzarella stuffed soft pretzel sticks, mozzarella scores 68.3 points below that category average (25/100 vs. 93.3/100), 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
Enriched Wheat Flour
2
Wheat Flour
3
Malted Barley Flour
4
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
5
Reduced 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
Low Moisture Part-skim Mozzarella
10
Cultured Pasteurized Part-skim Milk
11
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
12
Enzymes
13
Water
14
Cream
15
Modified Food Starch
16
Cellulose
Emulsifier
Safe
17
Sorbic Acid
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
18
Preservative
19
Yeast
20
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
21
Pasteurized Cow's Milk
22
Culture
23
Corn Starch And Cellulose Added To Prevent Caking
24
Tomato Oregano Flavor Bits
25
Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
26
Cottonseed
27
Soybean
28
Flour
29
Tomato Powder
30
Natural Flavor
31
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
32
Soy Lecithin
33
Oregano
34
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
35
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
36
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
37
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
38
Sauteed Garlic Flavor
39
Canola Oil
40
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
41
Soybean Oil
42
Natural Butter Flavor
43
Milk Fat
44
Extracts Of Turmeric
45
Extracts Of Annatto
46
Bicarbonates And Carbonates Of Soda

Full Ingredient List

Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), processed part skim mozzarella cheese (low moisture part-skim mozzarella [cultured pasteurized part-skim milk, salt, enzymes], water, cream, modified food starch, modified cellulose, salt, sorbic acid [preservative]), water, yeast, shredded parmesan cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, culture, salt, enzymes, corn starch and cellulose added to prevent caking), tomato oregano flavor bits (partially hydrogenated vegetable oil [cottonseed, soybean], flour, tomato powder, salt, natural flavor, citric acid, soy lecithin, oregano, fd&c red #40, fd&c yellow #6, fd&c blue #1), corn syrup, salt, sauteed garlic flavor (canola oil, garlic, water, soybean oil, natural flavor, natural butter flavor [cream, milk fat], extracts of turmeric, extracts of annatto), bicarbonates and carbonates of soda.

Categories

Frozen foods

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.