Cheddar Bratwurst

by Four Brothers

75
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Cheddar Bratwurst by Four Brothers receives a safety score of 75/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient 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
0733147771167
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1 link (91 g)

What the Data Says About

Cheddar Bratwurst by Four Brothers carries a composite safety score of 75/100, 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.

Our scan identified 1 flagged ingredient 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, Cheddar Bratwurst 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 Cheddar Bratwurst
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 75/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 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
Pork
2
Beef
3
Water
4
Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese
5
Cheddar Cheese
6
Pasteurized Cultured Milk
7
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
8
Enzymes
9
Cream
10
Sodium Phosphates
11
Vegetable Color
12
Annatto & Paprika Extract Blend
13
Cellulose
Emulsifier
Safe
14
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
15
Natamycin
FUMIGANT
Safe Approved
16
Pasteurized Process American Cheese
17
American Cheese
18
Cultured Milk
19
Water Cream
20
Asorbic Acid
21
Artificial Color
22
Seasoning
23
Spices
24
Paprika
25
Granulated Onion
26
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
27
Sodium Erythorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Safe GRAS
28
Antimicrobial Agent
29
Potassium Lactate
FLAVOR ENHANCER
GRAS
30
Sodium Diacetate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe GRAS
31
Sodum Nitrite
32
Propylene Glycol
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
33
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
34
Red 3
Avoid Banned (FDA revoked Jan 2025)

Full Ingredient List

Pork, Beef, Water, Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese (cheddar cheese (pasteurized cultured milk, salt, enzymes), water, cream, sodium phosphates, salt, vegetable color (annatto & paprika extract blend), enzymes) powdered cellulose, potassium sorbate, natamycin), Pasteurized Process American Cheese (american cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), water cream, sodium phosphates, salt, asorbic acid, artificial color) powdered cellulose, potassium sorbate, natamycin), Seasoning (salt, spices (paprika, granulated onion, dextrose, sodium erythorbate)), Antimicrobial Agent (potassium lactate, water, sodium diacetate), salt, sodum nitrite, propylene glycol, sodium bicarbonate, red 3.

Categories

Meats and their products Prepared meats Sausages

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