Stuffed Pepper

by Target Stores

50
Concern
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 2 flagged ingredients

Stuffed Pepper by Target Stores receives a safety score of 50/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 2 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
0085239606186
Nutri-Score
d
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
3 PIECES (76 g)

What the Data Says About

Stuffed Pepper by Target Stores carries a composite safety score of 50/100, which we classify as "Concern" 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 2 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, Stuffed Pepper 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 D 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 Stuffed Pepper
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 50/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 2 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score D OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Green Jalapeno Peppers
2
Peppers
3
Water
4
Acetic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
5
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
6
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
7
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
8
Preservative
9
Vegetable Oil
10
Soybean
11
Canola
12
Bleached Wheat Flour
13
Wheat Flour
14
Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese
15
Cheddar Cheese
16
Milk
17
Cheese Culture
18
Enzymes
19
Milkfat
20
Sodium Phosphate
21
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
22
Artificial Color
23
Pasteurized Milk
24
Cheese Cultures
25
Corn Starch
26
Cheese Sauce Mix
27
Dehydrated Blend Of Cheese
28
Semisoft And Cheddar Cheeses {Pasteurized Milk
29
Enzymes}
30
Whey
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FORMULATION AID, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
31
Cellulose Gum
32
Butter
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
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
35
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
36
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
37
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
38
Or Less Of Apocarotenal
39
Color
40
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
41
Whole Eggs
42
Enzyme Modified Cheese
43
Vitamin A Palmitate
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
44
Extractives Of Paprika
45
Annatto
Coloring
Certain People Should Avoid
46
And Turmeric
47
Leavening
48
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
49
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
50
Milk Protein Concentrate
51
Sorbic Acid
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
52
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
53
Turmeric Oleoresin
54
Wheat Starch
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
55
Yeast
56
Yellow Corn Flour

Full Ingredient List

Green jalapeno peppers (peppers, water, acetic acid, salt, calcium chloride, sodium benzoate [preservative]), water, vegetable oil (soybean and/or canola), bleached wheat flour, wheat flour, pasteurized process cheddar cheese (cheddar cheese [milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], water, milkfat, sodium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, salt, artificial color), cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), modified corn starch, cheese sauce mix (dehydrated blend of cheese [semisoft and cheddar cheeses {pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes}], modified corn starch, whey, salt, cellulose gum, butter, sodium phosphate, silicon dioxide, lactic acid, citric acid, yellow 5, yellow 6), contains 2% or less of apocarotenal (color), cellulose gum, dextrose, dried whole eggs, enzyme modified cheese (pasteurized milk, water, milkfat, sodium phosphate, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, vitamin a palmitate), extractives of paprika, annatto, and turmeric (color), lactic acid, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate), milk protein concentrate, modified corn starch, salt, sodium phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sorbic acid (preservative), sugar, turmeric oleoresin (color), wheat starch, whey, yeast, yellow corn flour.

Categories

Plant-based foods and beverages Plant-based foods Frozen foods Meals Prepared vegetables Stuffed peppers

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