Chocolate cake

0
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 14 flagged ingredients

Chocolate cake 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 14 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
0080419110095
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
0.08 CAKE (66 g)

What the Data Says About

Chocolate cake 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 14 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, Chocolate 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 Chocolate cake
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 0/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 14 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
Cake - Sugar
 2
Enriched Bleached Flour
 3
Bleached Wheat Flour
 4
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
5
Reduced Iron
 6
Thiamin Mononitrate
 7
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
8
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
9
Water
 10
Soybean Oil
 11
Eggs
 12
Egg Whites
 13
Cocoa Processed With Alkali
 14
Corn Starch
 15
Or Less Of Nonfat Milk
 16
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
17
Leavening
 18
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
19
Sodium Bicarbonate
EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
GRAS
20
Corn Starch
 21
Monocalcium Phosphate
 22
Vital Wheat Gluten
 23
Emulsifiers
 24
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
25
Mono - And Diglycerides
 26
Polysorbate 60
BOILER WATER ADDITIVE, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Caution Approved
27
Sodium stearoyl lactylate
Other
Safe
28
Soy Lecithin
 29
Artificial And Natural Flavors
 30
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
31
Natural And Artificial Flavors
 32
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
33
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
34
Yellow 5 Lake. Icing And Garnish - Sugar
 35
Vegetable Shortening
 36
Interesterified Soybean Oil
 37
Palm Oil
 38
Canola Oil
 39
Cottonseed Oil
 40
TBHQ
Preservative
Avoid Approved (preservative, 21 CFR 172.185)
41
Preservatives
 42
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
43
Chocolate Liquor
 44
Cocoa Butter
 45
Sweetened Condensed Milk
 46
Whole Milk Powder
 47
Whey Powder And Butter Oil
 48
Milk
 49
Emulsifier
 50
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
51
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
52
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
53
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
54
Gum Arabic
 55
Locust Bean Gum
 56
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
57
Rice Flour
 58
Carrageenan
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Caution GRAS
59
Guar Gum
 60
Phosphoric Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
Cut Back GRAS
61
Preservative
 62
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
63
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
64
Cornstarch
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
65
Natural And Artificial Flavor
 66
Titanium Dioxide
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TRACER
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
67
For Color
 68
Sodium Benzoate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
69
Potasssium Sorbate
 70
. If Decorated May Contain-blue 1
 71
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
72
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
73
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
74
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
75
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
76
Red 3
Avoid Banned (FDA revoked Jan 2025)
77
Blue 2
Avoid Approved (certified color)

Full Ingredient List

Cake - sugar, enriched bleached flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, soybean oil, eggs, egg whites, cocoa processed with alkali, modified corn starch, contains 2% or less of nonfat milk, salt, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate), vital wheat gluten, emulsifiers (sorbitan monostearate, mono - and diglycerides, polysorbate 60, sodium stearoyl lactylate, soy lecithin), artificial and natural flavors, dextrose, natural and artificial flavors, red 40 lake, blue 1 lake, yellow 5 lake. icing and garnish - sugar, vegetable shortening [interesterified soybean oil, soybean oil, palm oil, canola oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, mono - and diglycerides, polysorbate 60, tbhq (preservatives)], corn syrup, water, cocoa processed with alkali. contains less than 2% of chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk powder, whey powder and butter oil (milk), soy lecithin (emulsifier), salt, caramel color, maltodextrin, high fructose corn syrup, glycerin, gum arabic, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, rice flour, carrageenan, guar gum, phosphoric acid (preservative), polysorbate 80, citric acid, cornstarch, natural and artificial flavor, dextrose, titanium dioxide (for color), sodium benzoate, potasssium sorbate (preservatives). if decorated may contain-blue 1, blue 1 lake, yellow 5, yellow 5 lake, yellow 6, yellow 6 lake, red 40, red 40 lake, red 3, blue 2 lake.

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.

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Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial