Mackinaw Fudge Cake

by Arnie's

0
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 7 flagged ingredients

Mackinaw Fudge Cake by Arnie's receives a safety score of 0/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 7 ingredients 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
0076185004669
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 SLICE (85 g)

What the Data Says About

Mackinaw Fudge Cake by Arnie's carries a composite safety score of 0/100, 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.

Our scan identified 7 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, Mackinaw Fudge Cake 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 E 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 Mackinaw Fudge Cake
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 0/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 7 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score E OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
2
Enriched Wheat Flour Bleached
3
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
Cocoa Processed With Alkali
10
Soybean Oil
11
Leavening
12
Baking Soda
13
Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, LEAVENING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
14
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate
15
Monocalcium Phosphate
16
Aluminum Sulfate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FIRMING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
17
Food Starch-modified
18
Propylene Glycol
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
19
Mono & Diesters Of Fatty Acids
20
Mono & Diglycerides With Bht & Citric Acid As Preservatives
21
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
22
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
23
Sorbitan Monostearate Nonfat Milk Solids
24
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
25
Soy Lecithin
26
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
27
Cellulose Gum
28
Polysorbate 60
BOILER WATER ADDITIVE, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Caution Approved
29
Water
30
Natural And Artificial Flavor
31
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
32
Polysorbate 80
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Caution Approved
33
Glycerine Wheat Starch Sulfites Silicon Dioxide Sucrose
34
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
35
Egg Whites
36
Guar Gum
37
Cotton Seed Oil Or Soybean Oil
38
Soy Flour
39
Vanillin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
40
Confectioners Glaze
41
Shortening
42
Soybean
43
Palm Kernel Oil With Mono - And Diglycerides
44
Carob Powder
45
Triglycerides
46
Whole Eggs
47
Or Less Of Butter
48
Pasteurized Cream
49
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
50
Margarine
51
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
52
Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil
53
Colored With Annatto/turmeric
54
Calcium Edta Added As A Preservative
55
Artificial Flavor
56
Vitamin A Palmitate Added
57
Rice Flour
58
Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
59
Cottonseed
60
Corn Starch
61
Gum Arabic
62
Confectioner's Glaze
63
Carrageenan Gum
64
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
65
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
66
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
67
Blue 2
Avoid Approved (certified color)
68
Bourbanaise Vanilla
69
Natural And Artificial Flavors
70
Ethyl Alcohol
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
GRAS
71
Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup
72
Glycerin
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
73
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
74
Milk Dipotassium Phosphate And Vitamin D
75
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
76
Red 3
Avoid Banned (FDA revoked Jan 2025)
77
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
78
Methyl Paraben And Propyl Paraben

Full Ingredient List

Sugar, enriched wheat flour bleached (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), cocoa processed with alkali, soybean oil, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, aluminum sulfate), food starch-modified, propylene glycol, mono & diesters of fatty acids, mono & diglycerides with bht & citric acid as preservatives, dextrose, salt, sorbitan monostearate nonfat milk solids, caramel color, soy lecithin, propylene glycol, xanthan gum, cellulose gum, polysorbate 60, water, natural and artificial flavor, corn syrup, polysorbate 80, glycerine wheat starch sulfites silicon dioxide sucrose, maltodextrin, egg whites, guar gum, cotton seed oil or soybean oil), soy flour, vanillin, confectioners glaze, shortening (soybean and/or palm kernel oil with mono - and diglycerides, polysorbate 60), carob powder, triglycerides, partially hydrogenated soybean oil and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil with mono - and diglycerides, whole eggs, contains 2% or less of butter (pasteurized cream, lactic acid), margarine (partially hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, colored with annatto/turmeric, calcium edta added as a preservative, artificial flavor, vitamin a palmitate added), rice flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (cottonseed and/or soybean), corn starch, gum arabic, confectioner's glaze, carrageenan gum, fd&c red 40, fd&c yellow 6, fd&c yellow 5, artificial flavor, blue 2, bourbanaise vanilla (natural and artificial flavors, ethyl alcohol, partially inverted sugar syrup, glycerin, citric acid), milk dipotassium phosphate and vitamin d, high fructose corn syrup, fd&c red 3, potassium sorbate, methyl paraben and propyl paraben.

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Biscuits and cakes Cakes

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