Smoked sausage

by Johnsonville

85
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Smoked sausage by Johnsonville receives a safety score of 85/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient 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
0077782030037
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 link (66 g)

What the Data Says About

Smoked sausage by Johnsonville carries a composite safety score of 85/100, 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.

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, Smoked sausage 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 Smoked sausage
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 85/100 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.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Pork
2
Water
3
Diced Pasteurized Process Pepper Jack Cheese
4
Milk
5
Cream
6
Sodium Phosphate
7
Jalapeno Peppers
8
Serrano Peppers
9
Cheese Culture
10
Enzymes
11
Natural Smoke Flavor
12
Cellulose
Emulsifier
Safe
13
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
14
Sorbic Acid
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
15
And Less Than 2% Of The Following: Salt
16
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
17
Potassium Lactate
FLAVOR ENHANCER
GRAS
18
Chili Pepper
19
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
20
Natural Flavors
21
Garlic Powder
22
Onion Powder
23
Green Bell Pepper Granules
24
Red Pepper
25
Potassium Chloride
ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
26
Sodium Diacetate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
27
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
28
Jalapeno Pepper Granules
29
Black Pepper
30
Sodium Erythorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Safe GRAS
31
Thyme
32
Oregano
33
White Pepper
34
Sodium Nitrite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
35
Green Pepper
36
Collagen Casing

Full Ingredient List

Pork, water, diced pasteurized process pepper jack cheese (milk, cream, water, sodium phosphate, jalapeno peppers, serrano peppers, contains less than 2% of cheese culture, enzymes, natural smoke flavor, powdered cellulose, salt, sorbic acid) and less than 2% of the following: salt, corn syrup, potassium lactate, sodium phosphate, chili pepper, dextrose, natural flavors, garlic powder, onion powder, green bell pepper granules, red pepper, potassium chloride, sodium diacetate, maltodextrin, jalapeno pepper granules, black pepper, sodium erythorbate, thyme, oregano, white pepper, sodium nitrite, green pepper, collagen casing.

Categories

Meats and their products Meats Prepared meats Sausages Smoked sausages

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