Penne Pasta & Meatballs Meal
by Wawa
Scores 90/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 2 flagged ingredients identified.
The verdict
Penne Pasta & Meatballs Meal by Wawa scores 90/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 62 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.
- 90/100
- Safe safety score
- 2
- flagged ingredients of 62 analyzed
- Group 4
- Ultra-processed
- C
- 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 Penne Pasta & Meatballs Meal
Penne Pasta & Meatballs Meal by Wawa carries a composite safety score of 90/100, which we classify as "Safe" 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, Penne Pasta & Meatballs Meal 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 C 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
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PlainFoodSafe Score | 90/100 | FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite |
| Flagged ingredients | 2 | CSPI/FDA review |
| NOVA processing group | Group 4 | OpenFoodFacts |
| Nutri-Score | C | 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. Penne Pasta & Meatballs Meal scores 5.1 points below that category average (90/100 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
Full Ingredient List
Cooked Pennini Pasta (Water, Pennini Rigati [Semolina {Wheat}, Niacin, Iron {Ferrous Sulfate}, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, And Folic Acid], Canola Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil), Blush Pomodoro Sauce (Water, Tomato [Tomato, Tomato Juice, Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride], Heavy Cream [Pasteurized Heavy Cream, Carrageenan], Onion, Tomato, Vegetable Base [Sauteed Vegetables {Carrots, Celery, Onion, Tomato}, Natural Sea Salt, Yeast Extract, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Potato Flour], Garlic, Modified Food Starch, Sugar, Olive Pomace Oil, Salt, Citrus Fiber [Citrus Fiber, Guar Gum], Black Pepper, Dried Thyme, Dried Red Chili Pepper), Beef, Pork, And Veal Meatballs, Caramel Color Added (Beef, Pork, Bread Crumbs [Bleached Wheat Flour, Dextrose, Salt, Yeast], Parmesan Cheese [Pasteurized Cow'S Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Rennet, Calcium Propionate {Preservative}], Whole Eggs With Citric Acid, Veal, Garlic, Parsley, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Caramel Color [Contains Sulfites]), Parmesan Cheese (Parmesan Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Powdered Cellulose [To Prevent Caking]).
Categories
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.
Related
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.