Marsala Simmer & Serve Sauce

by Mario Batali

80
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 2 flagged ingredients

Marsala Simmer & Serve Sauce by Mario Batali receives a safety score of 80/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 2 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
0876045003975
Nutri-Score
c
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
0.5 cup (113 g)

What the Data Says About

Marsala Simmer & Serve Sauce by Mario Batali carries a composite safety score of 80/100, 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 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, Marsala Simmer & Serve Sauce 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

Composite safety metrics for Marsala Simmer & Serve Sauce
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 80/100 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.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Dried Beef Stock
2
Water
3
Dried Beef Stock
4
Sea salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
5
Yeast Extract
6
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
7
Vegetable Stock
8
Carrot
9
Celery
10
Onion
11
Leek
12
Red Bell Pepper
13
Tomato
14
Dehydrated Parsley
15
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
16
White Mushrooms
17
Organic Onions
18
Marsala Wine
19
Olive Oil
20
Canola Oil
21
Fresh Garlic
22
Red Wine
23
Wine
24
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
25
Pancetta
26
Pork Belly
27
Salt And Less Than 2% Of The Following: Natural Flavorings
28
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
29
Sodium Nitrate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
30
Sodium Ascorbate
ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
GRAS
31
Sodium Nitrite And Lactic Acid Starter Culture
32
Brown Sugar
33
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
34
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
35
Black Pepper
36
Thyme
37
Acidified Calcium Sulfate

Full Ingredient List

Beef stock (water, concentrated beef stock (beef stock, sea salt, yeast extract, caramel color, vegetable stock (carrot, celery, onion, leek, red bell pepper, tomato, parsley, garlic)), white mushrooms, onions, marsala wine, olive oil, canola oil, fresh garlic, red wine (wine, salt), pancetta (pork belly, salt and less than 2% of the following: natural flavorings, sugar, sodium nitrate, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite and lactic acid starter culture), brown sugar, modified cornstarch, parsley, salt, xanthan gum, black pepper, thyme, acidified calcium sulfate.

Categories

Condiments Sauces Groceries

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