Report cards › Food › McKee Foods Corporation
LITTLE DEBBIE
CSWH grade B (74)
Method v1.0 (how we grade), based on the records below; exact score 73.8132.
| Indicator | Grade | What we found |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls (40%) | A (100) | No recalls found Oct 28, 2021 to Oct 28, 2026. For current recalls see FDA and USDA. |
| Ingredients (40%) | F (35) | Tier A: 23 of 257 products (FD&C Red No. 3) · C (55) (25%) Tier B: 234 of 257 products (Bleached flour, FD&C Red No. 40, Titanium dioxide, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2 and 3 more) · F (0) (15%) · products |
| FDA warning letters (20%) | A (100) | None found to the owner Oct 28, 2021 to Oct 28, 2026. |
Shown, not graded: recall reasons (none) · IARC notes (0 products) · FDA dye pledge: In progress.
Recalls, Oct 28, 2021 to Oct 28, 2026
No FDA recall matched to this brand.
Store-brand and co-packer recalls count on a brand only when a UPC in the recall matches one of its products.
Ingredients on our watch list
FD&C Red No. 3 Tier A in 23 of 257 products
- FDA order revoking the listing of FD&C Red No. 3 for food (90 FR 4628, 2025-01-16; stay lifted and dates confirmed, 91 FR 50475, 2026-08-05): revoked for food by FDA, effective Jan 15, 2027.
- California AB 418 (2023), the California Food Safety Act, Stats. 2023 ch. 328, Health and Safety Code § 109025: banned in food by state law (CA), effective Jan 1, 2027.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(32): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
Bleached flour Tier B in 213 of 257 products
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(6): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
FD&C Red No. 40 Tier B in 125 of 257 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(34): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
Titanium dioxide Tier B in 108 of 257 products
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(41): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
FD&C Yellow No. 5 Tier B in 84 of 257 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(43): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
FD&C Blue No. 1 Tier B in 70 of 257 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(7): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
FD&C Blue No. 2 Tier B in 36 of 257 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(8): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
FD&C Yellow No. 6 Tier B in 36 of 257 products
- HHS/FDA phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes (announced 2025-04-22; voluntary industry pledges, no rule): FDA phase-out target, effective Dec 31, 2027.
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(44): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
- West Virginia HB 2354 (2025), W. Va. Code § 16-7-2(b)(7): banned in food by state law (WV), effective Jan 1, 2028. Under court challenge (enforcement blocked for now): International Association of Color Manufacturers v. Singh.
DATEM Tier B in 19 of 257 products
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(15): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
Azodicarbonamide (ADA) Tier B in 1 of 257 products
- Texas SB 25, 89th Legislature (2025), Health and Safety Code § 431.0815 (warning label), § 431.0815(a)(3): warning label required by state law (TX), effective Jan 1, 2027. Under court challenge: American Beverage Association v. Paxton.
Products (234)
- BIRTHDAY CAKE DONUTS, BIRTHDAY CAKE · UPC 24300831270 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - BIRTHDAY CAKE DONUTS, BIRTHDAY CAKE · UPC 24300835278 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - BUTTERFLY CAKES · UPC 24300044731 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - CHOCOLATE CHIP CANDY · UPC 24300835865 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD SOFT COOKIES, GINGERBREAD · UPC 24300041891 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - CHRISTMAS TREE BROWNIES · UPC 24300041587 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - CORAL REEF CAKES · UPC 24300044618 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake", "blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake", "yellow 6") · Report an error - CORAL REEF CLASSIC WHITE CAKES WITH WHITE CREME · UPC 24300044601 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake", "blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6") · Report an error - COSMIC BROWNIE WITH CHOCOLATE CHIP CANDY, CHOCOLATE CHIP · UPC 24300808869 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - COSMIC BROWNIES WITH CHOCOLATE CHIP CANDY · UPC 24300041068 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - COSMIC BROWNIES WITH CHOCOLATE CHIP CANDY, COSMIC WITH CHOCOLATE CHIP CANDY · UPC 24300043314 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - COSMIC CUPCAKES · UPC 24300044465 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - CREME FILLED BUTTERFLY CAKES, CREME · UPC 24300044458 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - FALL BROWNIES SNACKS SQUARES, FALL BROWNIES · UPC 24300042119 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake", "yellow 5"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake", "yellow 6") · Report an error - FALL TREE CAKES · UPC 24300044267 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6") · Report an error - ICED BROWNIES, ICED · UPC 24300042430 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide") · Report an error - JELLY FISH COOKIES · UPC 24300044687 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide") · Report an error - LITTLE DEBBIE, CREME FILLED COSMIC CUPCAKES · UPC 24300806179 · FoodData Central record of May 23, 2022
B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake"); B FD&C Yellow No. 6 ("yellow 6 lake") · Report an error - MARSHMALLOW COOKIES ROYALE PUFFS, MARSHMALLOW · UPC 24300045332 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake", "blue 1"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake") · Report an error - RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY CREME ROLLS, RED, WHITE AND BLUEBERRY · UPC 24300045066 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide") · Report an error - SHIMMERING MERMAID WHITE CAKE WITH FUN PURPLE CREME FILLING · UPC 24300045295 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake", "blue 1"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5 lake", "yellow 5") · Report an error - SPARKLING STRAWBERRY UNICORN CAKES, SPARKLING STRAWBERRY · UPC 24300045271 · FoodData Central record of Jul 29, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake", "blue 1"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide") · Report an error - SPARKLING STRAWBERRY UNICORN CAKES, STRAWBERRY · UPC 24300045349 · FoodData Central record of Jun 29, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1 lake", "blue 1"); B FD&C Blue No. 2 ("blue 2 lake"); A FD&C Red No. 3 ("red 3"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40 lake", "red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide") · Report an error - 12 SANDWICH COOKIES, OATMEAL CREME PIES · UPC 24300041013 · FoodData Central record of Nov 16, 2023
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Blue No. 1 ("blue 1"); B DATEM ("datem"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40"); B Titanium dioxide ("titanium dioxide"); B FD&C Yellow No. 5 ("yellow 5") · Report an error - ANIMAL TRACKS BROWNIES · UPC 24300045103 · FoodData Central record of Oct 28, 2021
B Bleached flour ("enriched bleached flour"); B FD&C Red No. 40 ("red 40") · Report an error
Labels change: each row shows the date of its FoodData Central record. A brand that has changed a recipe can report it with "Report an error".
FDA warning letters to McKee Foods Corporation, Oct 28, 2021 to Oct 28, 2026
None found from FDA food offices.
FDA notes that later events may have changed the regulatory status of what a letter discusses.
FDA dye pledge: In progress
McKee Foods names this brand: Little Debbie, Sunbelt Bakery, Drake's, Fieldstone Bakery
- Removal of artificial dyes by the end of 2027
Source: FDA's tracker of food industry dye pledges
Shown, not graded: a completed pledge already shows up as fewer dyes in the ingredients.