Target corporation, gourmet hand-dipped marshmallow pops, dark chocolate

by Target Corporation, Melville Candy Corporation

10
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 4 flagged ingredients

Target corporation, gourmet hand-dipped marshmallow pops, dark chocolate by Target Corporation, Melville Candy Corporation receives a safety score of 10/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 4 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
0732577572832
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 PIECE (48 g)

What the Data Says About

Target corporation, gourmet hand-dipped marshmallow pops, dark chocolate by Target Corporation, Melville Candy Corporation carries a composite safety score of 10/100, 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 4 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, Target corporation, gourmet hand-dipped marshmallow pops, dark chocolate 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 Target corporation, gourmet hand-dipped marshmallow pops, dark chocolate
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 10/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 4 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
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
2
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
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
4
Modified Food Starch
5
Corn
6
Water
7
Gelatin
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
8
Natural And Artificial Flavor
9
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate. White Chocolaty Coating: Sugar
10
Partially Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
11
Reduced Mineral Whey Powder
12
Whole Milk
13
Nonfat Dry Milk
14
Soy Lecithin
15
An Emulsifier
16
Salt And Vanillin
17
An Artificial Flavor
18
Milk Chocolaty Coating: Sugar
19
Cocoa Powder Nonfat Dry Milk Solids
20
Reduced Mineral
21
Whey Powder
22
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
23
Natural And Artificial Flavor
24
Topping
25
Sugar Artificial Color
26
Confectioner's Glaze
27
Gum Arabic
28
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
29
Carnauba Wax
30
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
31
Blue 2
Avoid Approved (certified color)
32
Yellow 6
Avoid Approved (certified color)
33
Hydroxylated Soy Lecithin

Full Ingredient List

Corn syrup, sugar, dextrose, modified food starch [corn], water, gelatin, natural and artificial flavor, tetrasodium pyrophosphate. white chocolaty coating: sugar, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, reduced mineral whey powder, whole milk, nonfat dry milk, soy lecithin (an emulsifier, salt and vanillin (an artificial flavor), milk chocolaty coating: sugar, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, cocoa powder nonfat dry milk solids, reduced mineral, whey powder, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), salt, and artificial flavor, topping, sugar artificial color, confectioner's glaze, corn syrup, gum arabic, yellow 5 lake, carnauba wax, red 40 lake, blue 2 lake, yellow 6 lake, hydroxylated soy lecithin.

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Confectioneries

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