Avoid

Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake

by Arnie's

Scores 0/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 7 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0076185005536 · Serving size 1 CUP CAKE (85 g)

The verdict

Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake by Arnie's scores 0/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 80 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 7 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.

0/100
Avoid safety score
7
flagged ingredients of 80 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
E
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 Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake

Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake 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. 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 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, Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake 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 Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake
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.

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 94,909 products we've scored in the Snacks category, the average safety score is 87.4/100. Triple Chocolate Filled Cupcake scores 87.4 points below that category average (0/100 vs. 87.4/100), 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
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 Leavening
11
Baking Soda
12
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
13
Sodium Aluminium Phosphate
14
Monocalcium Phosphate
15
Aluminium Sulfate
16
Food Starch-modified
17
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
18
Mono & Diesters Of Fatty Acids
19
Mono & Diglycerides With Bht & Citric Acid
20
Dextrose Salt
21
Sorbitan Monostearate
EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Safe Approved
22
Nonfat Milk Solids
23
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
24
Soy Lecithin
25
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
26
Cellulose Gum
27
Polysorbate 60
BOILER WATER ADDITIVE, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Caution Approved
28
Water
29
Natural And Artificial Flavor Corn Syrup
30
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
31
Wheat Starch
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
32
Sulfites
Preservative
Certain People Should Avoid
33
Silicon Dioxide
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
Safe GRAS
34
Sucrose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
GRAS
35
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
36
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
37
Glycerine
38
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
39
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
40
Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate
41
Carrageenan Gum
42
Cherries
43
Calcium Chloride
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, ENZYME, FIRMING AGENT, FREEZING OR COOLING AGENT, DIRECT CONTACT, FUMIGANT, HUMECTANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING
GRAS
44
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
45
Sulfur Dioxide
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
46
Egg Whites
47
Guar Gum
48
Triethyl Citrate Shortening
49
Soybean
50
Palm Kernel
51
Carob Powder
52
Or Less Of: Triglycerides
53
Margarine
54
Palm Oil
55
Soybean Oil
56
Salt With Mono And Diglycerides Added
57
Colored With Annatto
58
Calcium Disodium Edta Added As A Preservative
59
Artificial Butter Flavor
60
Vitamin A Palmitate Added
61
Whole Eggs
62
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil And Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil
63
TBHQ
Preservative
Avoid Approved (preservative, 21 CFR 172.185)
64
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
65
Modified Food Starch
66
Red 3
Avoid Banned (FDA revoked Jan 2025)
67
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
68
Methyl Paraben And Propyl Paraben
69
Butter
70
Pasteurized Cream
71
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
72
Distilled Monoglycerides
73
Distilled Propylene Glycol Monesters
74
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Other
Safe
75
Calcium Silicate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT
GRAS
76
Bourbanaise Vanilla
77
Natural And Artificial Flavors
78
Ethyl Alcohol
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
GRAS
79
Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup Glycerin
80
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

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 aluminium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, aluminium sulfate), food starch-modified, propylene glycol, mono & diesters of fatty acids, mono & diglycerides with bht & citric acid, dextrose salt, sorbitan monostearate, nonfat milk solids, caramel color, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, cellulose gum, polysorbate 60, water, natural and artificial flavor corn syrup, polysorbate 60, glycerin, wheat starch, sulfites, silicon dioxide, sucrose, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup, glycerine, fd&c yellow 5, fd&c blue 1, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, carrageenan gum, cherries, calcium chloride, fd&c red #40, sulfur dioxide, egg whites, guar gum, triethyl citrate shortening (soybean and/or palm kernel, polysorbate 60), carob powder, contains 2% or less of: triglycerides, margarine (palm oil, water, soybean oil, salt with mono and diglycerides added, colored with annatto, calcium disodium edta added as a preservative, artificial butter flavor, vitamin a palmitate added), whole eggs, partially hydrogenated soybean oil and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, tbhq, fd&c red 40, glycerine, modified food starch, fd&c red 3, carrageenan gum, potassium sorbate, methyl paraben and propyl paraben, butter (pasteurized cream, lactic acid), distilled monoglycerides, distilled propylene glycol monesters, sodium stearoyl lactylate, calcium silicate , bourbanaise vanilla (natural and artificial flavors, water, ethyl alcohol, caramel color, partially inverted sugar syrup glycerin, citric acid)

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Biscuits and cakes Cakes

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.