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Ingredient Frequency Analysis

Discover which ingredients appear most frequently across 1.98 million packaged food products, revealing surprising patterns in the modern food supply.

📊 15 min read•🔬 Data Analysis•🔄 Live Database

Key Findings from 1.98M Products

Most Common Ingredient

47.0%

Salt appears in nearly half of all packaged food products

Sweetener Saturation

65.3%

Two-thirds of products contain at least one type of sweetener

Surprising Insights

• Water ranks 3rd: Despite being essential, water appears in only 35.1% of products

• Vitamin fortification is common: Niacin and riboflavin appear in 14.2% and 12.8% respectively

• Processing additives are widespread: Nearly half of products contain artificial colors or preservatives

Visualization Controls

Most Common Ingredients
20 total ingredients

#1Salt
Base
47%
926,592 products
47%
#2Sugar
Sweeteners
37.9%
747,969 products
37.9%
#3Water
Base
35.1%
691,582 products
35.1%
#4Citric Acid
Base
18%
355,347 products
18%
#5Niacin
Base
14.2%
279,805 products
14.2%
#6Riboflavin
Base
12.8%
252,833 products
12.8%
#7Natural Flavor
Flavors
12%
237,280 products
12%
#8Corn Syrup
Sweeteners
12%
236,746 products
12%
#9Folic Acid
Base
10.5%
206,813 products
10.5%
#10Dextrose
Sweeteners
10.4%
205,547 products
10.4%
#11Reduced Iron
Base
10.4%
205,193 products
10.4%
#12Soy Lecithin
Base
9.9%
195,325 products
9.9%
#13Spices
Base
9.4%
185,314 products
9.4%
#14Sea Salt
Base
9%
177,988 products
9%
#15Natural Flavors
Flavors
8.7%
171,301 products
8.7%

Note: Percentages represent the proportion of products in our database that contain each ingredient. Higher percentages indicate more commonly used ingredients across packaged food products.

Data Sources & Methodology

Sources:

  • • Ultra Processed Food List Database (1.98M products)
  • • USDA FoodData Central ingredient classifications
  • • FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) database
  • • Manufacturer ingredient lists and declarations

Sample Size:

1,977,398 products analyzed

Limitations:

  • • Data represents products with available ingredient lists
  • • Some ingredients may be classified in multiple categories
  • • Regional product variations not fully captured
  • • Percentages are estimates based on available data

Educational Purpose Disclaimer

This data visualization is for educational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for dietary decisions. Consult with healthcare professionals for personalized nutrition advice. Individual product formulations may vary, and this data represents general patterns in the food supply.

Most Common Ingredients

Salt47.0%
Sugar37.9%
Water35.1%
Citric Acid18.0%
Niacin14.2%

Based on analysis of 1.98M products with ingredient data.

Common Sweeteners

Sugar37.9%
Corn Syrup12.0%
Dextrose10.4%
Maltodextrin7.1%
HFCS6.2%

65.3% of products contain at least one sweetener.

Additive Categories

Sweeteners
65.3%
Colors
47.4%
Preservatives
31.5%
Emulsifiers
19.4%

Percentage of products containing each additive category.

Most Common Preservatives

Thiamine Mononitrate
162,403 products
8.2%
Thiamin Mononitrate
86,342 products
4.4%
Lactic Acid
80,730 products
4.1%
Potassium Sorbate
29,865 products
1.5%
Sodium Nitrite
28,941 products
1.5%

Most Common Artificial Colors

Caramel Color
97,155 products
4.9%
Red 40
67,323 products
3.4%
Yellow 5
63,736 products
3.2%
Yellow 6
46,557 products
2.4%
Blue 1
44,565 products
2.3%

Analysis Methodology

Data Processing

  • • Ingredient lists parsed from 1.98M products
  • • 270,000+ unique ingredients identified and normalized
  • • Automated classification using USDA and FDA databases
  • • Real-time calculation from live database

Frequency Calculation

  • • Percentage = (Products with ingredient / Total products) × 100
  • • Based on products with available ingredient data
  • • Category classifications use boolean flags in database
  • • Data updated continuously with new product additions

Key Takeaways

  • ✓Salt dominates the food supply: Nearly half (47%) of all packaged products contain added salt, making it the most ubiquitous ingredient.
  • ✓Sweeteners are everywhere: 65.3% of products contain some form of sweetener, with sugar alone appearing in 37.9% of products.
  • ✓Artificial colors are common: Nearly half (47.4%) of products contain artificial colors, with caramel color being the most prevalent.
  • ✓Vitamin fortification is standard: Many processed foods are fortified with vitamins, with niacin and riboflavin appearing in over 10% of products.
  • ✓Water is surprisingly uncommon: Despite being essential, water only appears in 35.1% of products, ranking third behind salt and sugar.

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Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Always consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.