Concern

Cherry Limeade

Scores 55/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 3 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0810169605646

The verdict

Cherry Limeade scores 55/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 35 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 3 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.

55/100
Concern safety score
3
flagged ingredients of 35 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
0810169605646
Barcode (UPC/EAN)

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 Cherry Limeade

Cherry Limeade carries a composite safety score of 55/100, 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. 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 3 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, Cherry Limeade 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.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Cherry Limeade
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 55/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 3 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score Not available OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Carbonated Water
2
Natural And Artificial Flavor
3
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
4
Malic Acid
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SYNERGIST
Safe GRAS
5
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
6
Preservative
7
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
8
Caffeine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
9
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
10
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
11
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
12
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
13
Vitamin C
14
Sodium Citrate
15
Tartaric acid
Preservative
Safe
16
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
17
Vitamin B3
18
D-calcium Pantothenate
19
Vitamin B5
20
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
21
Vitamin B6
22
Cyanocobalamin
23
Vitamin B12
24
L-carnitine L-tartrate
25
Taurine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe Listed
26
Caffeine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
27
From Coffee Arabica Seed
28
Alpha-gpc
29
Alpha-glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline
30
Neurofactor
31
Coffee Arabica Whole Fruit Extract
32
Theobromine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Listed
33
Astra Gin
34
Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract
35
Panax Notoginseng Root Extract

Full Ingredient List

carbonated water, natural and artificial flavor, citric acid, malic acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate (preservative), caffeine, sucralose, ace-k (acesulfame potassium), ascorbic acid (vitamin c), sodium citrate, tartaric acid, niacinamide (vitamin b3), d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin b5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12), l-carnitine l-tartrate, taurine, natural caffeine (from coffee arabica seed), alpha-gpc (alpha-glyceryl phosphoryl choline), neurofactor (coffee arabica whole fruit extract), theobromine, astra gin (astragalus membranaceus root extract, panax notoginseng root extract)

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.