Caution

Russell stover, assorted fine chocolates

by Russell Stover,Russell Stover Candies Inc.

Scores 75/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 1 flagged ingredient identified.

Barcode 0077260042217 · Serving size 2 PIECES (34 g)

The verdict

Russell stover, assorted fine chocolates by Russell Stover,Russell Stover Candies Inc. scores 75/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 61 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.

75/100
Caution safety score
1
flagged ingredient of 61 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 Russell stover, assorted fine chocolates

Russell stover, assorted fine chocolates by Russell Stover,Russell Stover Candies Inc. carries a composite safety score of 75/100, which we classify as "Caution" 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, Russell stover, assorted fine 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 Russell stover, assorted fine chocolates
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 75/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 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. Russell stover, assorted fine chocolates scores 12.4 points below that category average (75/100 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
Ingredients Consist Of Chocolate
2
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
Natural Chocolate
4
Chocolate Processed With Alkali
5
Cocoa Butter
6
Whole Milk
7
Milk Fat
8
Soy Lecithin
9
An Emulsifier
10
Vanillin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
11
An Artificial Flavor
12
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
13
Coconut With Sodium Metabisulfite
14
To Promote Color Retention
15
Condensed Milk
16
Dairy Cream
17
Peanut Butter
18
Dry Roasted Peanuts
19
Hydrogenated Cottonseed/rapeseed Oil
20
Soy Oil
21
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
22
Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils
23
Palm Kernel
24
Soybean
25
Cottonseed
26
Brown Sugar
27
Invert Sugar
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Cut Back GRAS
28
Molasses
29
Nonfat Milk Solids
30
Cherries
31
Water
32
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
33
Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate
34
Preservatives
35
Sulfur Dioxide
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
36
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
37
Nuts
38
Walnuts
39
Almonds
40
Pecans
41
Sorbitol
Sweetener
Cut Back
42
Cocoa Powder
43
Honey
44
Egg Albumen
45
Raisins
46
Natural And Artificial Flavors
47
Strawberries
48
Apricots With Sulfur Dioxide
49
Mono And Diglycerides With Citric Acid
50
To Help Protect Flavor
51
Butter
52
Spice
53
Fd&c Colors
54
Red #40
55
Blue #1
56
Yellow #5 & #6
57
Tapioca Flour
58
Tocopherols
ANTIOXIDANT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
59
A Natural Antioxidant
60
And Invertase
61
An Enzyme

Full Ingredient List

Ingredients consist of chocolate [sugar, chocolate, chocolate processed with alkali, cocoa butter, whole milk, milk fat, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), vanillin (an artificial flavor)], sugar, corn syrup, coconut with sodium metabisulfite (to promote color retention), condensed milk, dairy cream, peanut butter (dry roasted peanuts, hydrogenated cottonseed/rapeseed oil, soy oil, salt), partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (palm kernel, soybean, cottonseed), brown sugar, invert sugar, molasses, whole milk, nonfat milk solids, cherries [cherries, corn syrup, water, sugar, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), sulfur dioxide (to promote color retention), fd&c red #40], nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), sorbitol, salt, cocoa powder, honey, egg albumen, raisins, natural and artificial flavors, strawberries, apricots with sulfur dioxide (to promote color retention), mono and diglycerides with citric acid (to help protect flavor), soy lecithin (an emulsifier), butter, spice, fd&c colors (red #40, blue #1, yellow #5 & #6), tapioca flour, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), tocopherols (a natural antioxidant, and invertase (an enzyme).

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Cocoa and its products Confectioneries Chocolate candies Bonbons

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.