Avoid

Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry

by Meijer

Scores 5/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 5 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 0886926045871 · Serving size 1 ONZ (28 g)

The verdict

Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry by Meijer scores 5/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 60 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 5 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.

5/100
Avoid safety score
5
flagged ingredients of 60 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
E
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 Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry

Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry by Meijer carries a composite safety score of 5/100, 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. 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 5 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, Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry 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 Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 5/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 5 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.

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 94,909 products we've scored in the Snacks category, the average safety score is 87.4/100. Meijer, basics, cereal bars, strawberry scores 82.4 points below that category average (5/100 vs. 87.4/100), 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

1
Strawberry Filling
2
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
Fructose
Sweetener
Cut Back
4
Strawberry Puree
5
Glucose
6
Tapioca Starch
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
7
Glycerine
8
Apple Powder
9
Pectin
EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FIRMING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
10
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
11
Vegetable Shortening
12
Soybean Oil
13
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
14
Artificial Color
15
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
16
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
17
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
18
Cellulose
Emulsifier
Safe
19
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
20
Sodium Citrate
21
Calcium Citrate
FIRMING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
22
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
23
Preservative
24
Artificial Flavors
25
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
26
Oats
27
Whole Wheat Flour
28
Vegetable Shortening
29
Palm Oil
30
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
31
Water
32
Milk
33
Wheat Bran
34
Calcium Carbonate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, LUBRICANT OR RELEASE AGENT, MASTICATORY SUBSTANCE, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
35
Iodized Salt
36
Soy Lecithin
37
Baking Soda
38
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
39
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
40
Vitamin C
41
Vitamin E
42
Ferrous Fumarate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
43
Iron
44
Vitamin A
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
45
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
46
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
47
Zinc Oxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
48
Potassium Iodide
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, TRACER
GRAS
49
Pyridoxine Hcl
50
Vitamin B6
51
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
52
Vitamin B2
53
Thiamin Mononitrate
54
Vitamin B1
55
Cyanocobalamin
56
Vitamin B12
57
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
58
Artificial Flavor
59
Ammonium Bicarbonate
DOUGH STRENGTHENER, LEAVENING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
60
Monocalcium Phosphate

Full Ingredient List

Strawberry filling [sugar, fructose, strawberry puree, glucose, modified tapioca starch, glycerine, apple powder, pectin, citric acid, hydrogenated vegetable shortening ( soybean oil), caramel color, artificial color (red 40, blue 1, yellow 5), cellulose, salt, sodium citrate, calcium citrate, sodium benzoate (preservative), artificial flavors, sucralose], oats, whole wheat flour, vegetable shortening (palm oil ), high fructose corn syrup, sugar, water, soybean oil, glycerine, milk, wheat bran, calcium carbonate, iodized salt, soy lecithin, baking soda, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), vitamin e, ferrous fumarate (iron), vitamin a, niacinamide (niacin), zinc oxide, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hcl (vitamin b6), riboflavin (vitamin b2), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12), folic acid, artificial flavor, ammonium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate.

Categories

Snacks

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.