Assorted milk & dark chocolates

by Russell Stover

20
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 4 flagged ingredients

Assorted milk & dark chocolates by Russell Stover receives a safety score of 20/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 4 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
0077260041302
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
2 PIECES (32 g)

What the Data Says About

Assorted milk & dark chocolates by Russell Stover carries a composite safety score of 20/100, 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 4 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, Assorted milk & dark chocolates 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 Assorted milk & dark chocolates
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 20/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 4 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
Milk Chocolate {Sugar
2
Whole Milk
3
Cocoa Butter
4
Natural Chocolate
5
Soy Lecithin
6
Emulsifier
7
Vanillin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
8
Artificial Flavor
9
Dark Chocolate {Sugar
10
Chocolate Processed With Alkali
11
Milk Fat
12
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
13
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
14
Peanuts
15
Condensed Milk
16
Cashews
17
Almonds
18
Butter
19
Cream
20
Brown Sugar
21
Palm Kernel Oil
22
Invert Sugar
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Cut Back GRAS
23
Pecans
24
Cherries {Cherries
25
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
26
Water
27
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
28
Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate
29
Preservatives
30
Natural Flavor
31
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
32
Sulfur Dioxide
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
33
Preserves Color
34
Coconut With Sodium Metabisulfite
35
Preserves Whiteness
36
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
37
Raisins
38
Sunflower Oil
39
Apricots With Sulfur Dioxide
40
Strawberries
41
Natural And Artificial Flavors
42
Gum Arabic
43
Tapioca Starch
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
44
Egg Whites
45
Walnuts
46
Cocoa Powder
47
Spice
48
Invertase
49
Enzyme
50
Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate
51
Mono And Diglycerides With Citric Acid
52
Antioxidant
53
Edible Shellac
54
Soybean Oil
55
Mixed Tocopherols
56
Fd&c Colors
57
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
58
Yellow 5 & 6
59
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
60
Honey
61
White Chocolate {Sugar
62
Salt}
63
Sorbitol
Sweetener
Cut Back
64
Maple Sugar
65
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
66
Orange Peel
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, TEXTURIZER
Listed
67
Carmine Color
68
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
69
Sodium Hydroxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, FUMIGANT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
GRAS
70
Raspberries
71
Lemon Peel
72
Apples
73
Whole Milk And Nonfat Milk Solids

Full Ingredient List

Milk chocolate {sugar, whole milk, cocoa butter, chocolate, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanillin (artificial flavor)}, dark chocolate {sugar, chocolate processed with alkali, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin (emulsifier), vanillin (artificial flavor)}, sugar, corn syrup, peanuts, condensed milk, cashews, almonds, butter, cream, brown sugar, palm kernel oil, invert sugar, pecans, cherries {cherries, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, sugar, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), natural flavor, fd&c red 40, sulfur dioxide (preserves color)}, coconut with sodium metabisulfite (preserves whiteness), salt, raisins (raisins, sunflower oil), apricots with sulfur dioxide (preserves color), strawberries, natural and artificial flavors, gum arabic, tapioca starch, dried egg whites, soy lecithin (emulsifier), walnuts, cocoa powder, spice, invertase (enzyme), potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (preservatives), mono and diglycerides with citric acid (antioxidant), edible shellac, soybean oil, citric acid, mixed tocopherols (antioxidant), fd&c colors (red 40, yellow 5 & 6, blue 1), honey, white chocolate {sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk, soy lecithin (emulsifier), artificial flavor, salt}, sorbitol, maple sugar, caramel color, orange peel (orange peel, water, citric acid), carmine color, maltodextrin, sodium hydroxide, raspberries, lemon peel, apples, whole milk and nonfat milk solids.

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Cocoa and its products Confectioneries Chocolate candies Bonbons Assorted chocolate candies

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