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Barcode 023700011089
AVOIDHot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza is rated AVOID by BannedPantry: its label lists 4 ingredients that are banned or restricted outside the US — Red 40 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); BHA (California, EU); BHT (EU, UK); Sodium Nitrite (EU, UK). All of them are still legal to sell in the US.
Banned or restricted in: EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)
Southampton Six colour (Allura Red, E129): EU-AUTHORISED but foods containing it must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. Many manufacturers reformulate for the EU/UK instead.
Banned or restricted in: California, EU
Listed under California Proposition 65 as a carcinogen (since 1990), requiring a warning; EU permits it only as an antioxidant (E320) at limited maximum levels. IARC Group 2B.
Banned or restricted in: EU, UK
EU/UK authorise BHT (E321) only in specified foods at limited maximum levels under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and not in foods for infants/young children; the US permits broader GRAS use.
Same category, none of the flagged ingredients.
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Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, pasteurized process mozzarella cheese (water, nonfat milk, buttermilk, milkfat, cheese cultures, salt, citric acid, sodium phosphate, enzymes), pepperoni (pork, beef, salt, contains 2% or less: spices, dextrose, pork stock, lactic acid starter culture, oleoresin of paprika, garlic powder, sodium ascorbate, flavoring, sodium nitrite, BHA, BHT, citric acid), tomatoes, sugar, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, spices, modified food starch, Red 40, Blue 1.
No — every ingredient in Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza is currently legal to sell in the US. However, Red 40, BHA, BHT, Sodium Nitrite are banned or restricted in other regions: Red 40 (EU (warning label required), UK (warning label required)); BHA (California, EU); BHT (EU, UK); Sodium Nitrite (EU, UK).
Red 40: Southampton Six colour (Allura Red, E129): EU-AUTHORISED but foods containing it must carry the label 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. Many manufacturers reformulate for the EU/UK instead. BHA: Listed under California Proposition 65 as a carcinogen (since 1990), requiring a warning; EU permits it only as an antioxidant (E320) at limited maximum levels. IARC Group 2B. BHT: EU/UK authorise BHT (E321) only in specified foods at limited maximum levels under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and not in foods for infants/young children; the US permits broader GRAS use. Sodium Nitrite: Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2108 lowered the maximum permitted levels of sodium nitrite (E250) in cured/meat products to reduce nitrosamine formation; US limits are higher.
BannedPantry checks each labeled ingredient against food and cosmetic safety standards from the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, and California, with a citation for every flag. AVOID means at least one labeled ingredient is banned or restricted by a major overseas regulator, or is high-severity under our methodology. Ratings are never influenced by brands.
Comparable products without the flagged ingredients include Thrive Market Organic Pantry Starter Box (Thrive Market), Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers Variety (Simple Mills), Bob's Red Mill Organic Rolled Oats (Bob's Red Mill). You can also scan any product's barcode free at https://bannedpantry.com to check it before you buy.
See exactly which ingredients in Hot Pockets Pepperoni Pizza are banned overseas, with sources.
Scan now →BannedPantry — Our scores are never influenced by brands.
Banned or restricted in: EU, UK
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2108 lowered the maximum permitted levels of sodium nitrite (E250) in cured/meat products to reduce nitrosamine formation; US limits are higher.