Caution

Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh

by Ahold

Scores 70/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 2 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0688267003868 · Serving size 8 ONZ (227 g)

The verdict

Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh by Ahold scores 70/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 41 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 2 ingredients are flagged for caution. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination; check official notices and the product label for current decisions.

70/100
Caution safety score
2
flagged ingredients of 41 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
A
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 Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh

Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh by Ahold carries a composite safety score of 70/100, 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 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, Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh 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 A 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 Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 70/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 2 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score A OpenFoodFacts

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

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 19,967 products we've scored in the Meals category, the average safety score is 95.1/100. Chipotle Bbq Chicken Leg & Thigh scores 25.1 points below that category average (70/100 vs. 95.1/100), 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
Chicken: Chicken
2
Water
3
Potato Starch
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
4
Sea salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
5
. Bbq Sauce: Ketchup
6
Tomato
7
Distilled Vinegar
8
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
9
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
10
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
11
Spice
12
Onion Powder
13
Flavoring
14
Tomatoes
15
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
16
Molasses
17
Brown Sugar
18
Apple Cider Vinegar
19
Reduced With Water To 5% Acidity
20
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
21
Worcestershire Sauce
22
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
23
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
24
Tomato Paste
25
Naturally Derived
26
Garlic Powder
27
Hot Sauce
28
Water And Vinegar
29
Red Peppers
30
Guar Gum
31
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
32
Ascorbic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
33
To Preserve Freshness
34
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
35
Mustard Powder
36
Black Pepper
37
Paprika. Rub: Chipotle Pepper
38
Cinnamon
39
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
40
Celery Salt
41
Dehydrated Parsley

Full Ingredient List

Chicken: chicken (water, potato starch, sea salt). bbq sauce: ketchup (tomato, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder, natural flavoring), tomatoes (salt, citric acid), molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar (reduced with water to 5% acidity), modified cornstarch, worcestershire sauce (water, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, contains less than 2% hydrolyzed soy protein), caramel color, tomato paste (tomato, citric acid [naturally derived]) onion powder, garlic powder, salt, hot sauce (distilled vinegar [water and vinegar], red peppers, salt, guar gum, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid [to preserve freshness], red 40), mustard powder, black pepper, paprika. rub: chipotle pepper, cinnamon, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, celery salt, black pepper, salt, parsley.

Categories

Meals

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.