Unicorn Cupcakes

by Tesco

85
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Unicorn Cupcakes by Tesco receives a safety score of 85/100 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
5057753653941
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
As sold One cupcake (63g)

What the Data Says About

Unicorn Cupcakes by Tesco carries a composite safety score of 85/100, 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, Unicorn Cupcakes 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 Unicorn Cupcakes
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 85/100 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
Blue Vanilla Frosting
2
Icing Sugar
3
Rapeseed Oil
4
Palm Oil
5
Margarine
6
Water
7
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
8
Emulsifier
9
Mono - And Di-glycerides Of Fatty Acids
10
Flavouring
11
Colours E129
12
Annatto
Coloring
Certain People Should Avoid
13
Curcumin
14
Invert Sugar Syrup
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FORMULATION AID, HUMECTANT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
GRAS
15
Spirulina Concentrate
16
Apple Concentrate
17
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
18
Pink Vanilla Frosting
19
Colour
20
Beetroot Red
21
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
22
Wheat Flour
23
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
24
Iron
25
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
26
Thiamin
27
Pasteurised Egg
28
Modified Maize Starch
29
Silver Horn Decoration
30
Glucose Syrup
31
Emulsifiers
32
Acacia Gum
33
Stabilisers
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
Titanium Dioxide
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DRYING AGENT, HUMECTANT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TRACER
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
36
Iron Oxide
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Color Additive
37
Glazing Agents
38
Shellac
39
Whey Powder
40
Milk
41
Raising Agents
42
Potassium Bicarbonate
FORMULATION AID, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID
GRAS
43
Disodium Diphosphate
44
Calcium Phosphate
45
Preservatives
46
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
47
Calcium Propionate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT
Safe GRAS
48
Polyglycerol Esters Of Fatty Acids
EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Approved
49
Modified Maize Starch
50
Acidity Regulator
51
Potassium Hydroxide
FORMULATION AID, FUMIGANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, WASHING OR SURFACE REMOVAL AGENT
GRAS

Full Ingredient List

Blue Vanilla Frosting (24%) [Icing Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Margarine [Palm Oil, Water, Salt, Emulsifier (Mono - and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Flavouring, Colours (Annatto, Curcumin)], Water, Invert Sugar Syrup, Spirulina Concentrate, Apple Concentrate, Citric Acid, Flavouring], Pink Vanilla Frosting (24%) [Icing Sugar, Rapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Margarine [Palm Oil, Water, Salt, Emulsifier (Mono - and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Flavouring, Colours (Annatto, Curcumin)], Water, Colour (Beetroot Red), Flavouring], Sugar, Wheat Flour [Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin], Pasteurised Egg, Rapeseed Oil, Modified Maize Starch, Silver Horn Decoration [Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Palm Oil, Water, Emulsifiers (Acacia Gum, Mono - and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Stabilisers (Xanthan Gum), Colours (Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide), Glazing Agents (Shellac)], Whey Powder (Milk), Raising Agents (Potassium Bicarbonate, Disodium Diphosphate, Calcium Phosphate), Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Propionate), Emulsifiers (Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids, Mono - and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Maize Starch, Flavouring, Acidity Regulator (Potassium Hydroxide)

Categories

Snacks Sweet snacks Biscuits and cakes Cakes

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