Avoid

sushi

Scores 35/100 on FDA SAFFA + CSPI ingredient analysis - 3 flagged ingredients identified.

Barcode 09886520

The verdict

sushi scores 35/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 82 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.

35/100
Avoid safety score
3
flagged ingredients of 82 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
09886520
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 sushi

sushi carries a composite safety score of 35/100, 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 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, sushi 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 sushi
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 35/100 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
White Rice
2
Avocado
3
Sushi Seasoning
4
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
5
Grain Vinegar
6
Water
7
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
8
Msg
9
Lemon Juice Concentrate
10
Salmon
11
Astaxanthin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT
Color Additive
12
Paracoccus
13
Color Added Through Feed
14
Tuna
15
Imitation Crab
16
Fish Protein Threadfin Bream
17
Pollock
18
Big Eyel
19
Taploca Starch
20
Wheat Starch
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
21
Or Less Of Sugar
22
Natural Crab Extract
23
Crab Flavor
24
Sorbitol
Sweetener
Cut Back
25
Egg White Powder
26
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
27
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, DRYING AGENT, EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, HUMECTANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
28
Carmines
29
Paprika Color
30
Cucumber
31
Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
32
Chill
33
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
34
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
35
Acetic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
36
Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Bisulfite As Preservatives
37
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
38
Spicy Mayo
39
Soybean Oll
40
Sriracha Hot Chill Sauce Chill Pepper
41
Vinegar
42
Natural Flavors
43
Egg Yolk
44
Distilled Vinegar
45
Whole Egg
46
Paprika
47
Extracts Of Paprika
48
Edta-calcium Disodium To Protect Flavor & Color
49
Shichimi
50
Chili Pepper
51
Orange Peel
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, TEXTURIZER
Listed
52
Black Sesame Seed
53
Seaweed
54
White Sesame Seed
55
Japanese Pepper
56
Organic Ginger
57
Seaweed
58
Sesame Oil
59
Sesame Seeds. Ginger
60
Aspartame
FLAVOR ENHANCER, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
61
Phenylalanine
62
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
63
Malic Acid
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SYNERGIST
Safe GRAS
64
Potassium Sorbate As Preservative
65
. Wasabi
66
Wasabi Powder
67
Horseradish
68
Mustard
69
Vitamin C
70
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)
71
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
72
. Soy Sauce Packet
73
Soybean
74
Wheat
75
Egg
76
Fish
77
Threadfin Bream
78
Big Eye
79
Sesame
80
Shellfish
81
Crab
82
Soy

Full Ingredient List

white rice, avocado, sushi seasoning (high fructose corn syrup, grain vinegar, water, salt, monosodium glutamate, lemon juice concentrate), salmon (astaxanthin and/or paracoccus [color added through feed]), tuna, imitation crab (water, fish protein threadfin bream, pollock and/or big eyel, modified taploca starch, wheat starch, contains 2% or less of sugar, salt, crab extract, crab flavor, sorbitol, monosodium glutamate, egg white powder, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, carmines, paprika color), cucumber, sriracha hot chili sauce (chill, sugar, salt, garlic, acetic acid, potassium sorbate and sodium bisulfite as preservatives, xanthan gum), spicy mayo (soybean oll, sriracha hot chill sauce chill pepper, vinegar, garlic, sugar, salt, water, natural flavors, xanthan gum], sugar, egg yolk, water, distilled vinegar, whole egg, paprika, salt, lemon juice concentrate, xanthan gum, extracts of paprika, edta-calcium disodium to protect flavor & color]), shichimi (chili pepper, orange peel, black sesame seed, seaweed, white sesame seed, japanese pepper, ginger),, dried seaweed, sesame oil, sesame seeds. ginger (ginger, water, salt, sorbitol, aspartame [contains phenylalanine], citric acid, malic acid, potassium sorbate as preservative). wasabi (wasabi powder [horseradish, mustard, citric acid, vitamin c, yellow 5, blue 1], water). soy sauce packet (water, soybean, wheat, salt). contains: egg, fish (salmon, tuna, threadfin bream, pollock and/or big eye), sesame, shellfish (crab), soy, wheat.

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.