Whole Italian Sub product image with 55/100 Zerotox safety score

Is Whole Italian Sub Safe? Ingredient Analysis

Giant Eagle

Whole Italian Sub is a food from Giant Eagle. It has a Zerotox safety score of 55/100, which means it shows multiple flagged ingredients that may matter for sensitive users.

The main ingredients worth reviewing are Smoked Ham, Genoa Salami, Capicola.

55 / 100

Low quality

Why score is 55

The composition includes several processed meats like Genoa salami and fully cooked smoked ham, which contain sodium nitrite and BHA, raising safety concerns. The presence of multiple preservatives indicates a highly processed product.

Main concern

Sodium nitrite in meats raises concerns about potential health risks associated with processed meats.

Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.

Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.

Pros

  • Includes green leaf lettuce, providing some fresh vegetable content.
  • Contains provolone cheese, which adds flavor and texture to the sub.

Concerns

  • Sodium nitrite in meats raises concerns about potential health risks associated with processed meats.
  • BHA and BHT are synthetic preservatives that may pose safety concerns due to their controversial nature.

Who should avoid this product?

This food may not be the best fit for:

  • people avoiding animal-derived ingredients

Ingredients breakdown

Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this food so the page answers more than a simple label list.

  • Is Enriched Wheat Flour safe in this food?

    Medium

    Enriched Wheat Flour is used here as base. Enriched wheat flour serves as the primary ingredient in the sub roll, providing structure but is a refined grain with limited nutritional benefits.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]

    Read the full ingredient profile for Enriched Wheat Flour

  • Is Soybean Oil safe in this food?

    Medium

    Soybean Oil is used here as base. Soybean oil is used for moisture and texture in the sub roll, but it is a refined oil that may raise concerns about processing.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: SOYBEAN OIL

    Read the full ingredient profile for Soybean Oil

  • Is Smoked Ham safe in this food?

    Bad

    Smoked Ham is used here as base. Smoked ham contains sodium nitrite, a preservative linked to health risks, indicating a processed meat product.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: FULLY COOKED SMOKED HAM WITH WATER AND SMOKE FLAVORING ADDED (CURED WITH: WATER, DEXTROSE, SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF POTASSIUM LACTATE, SMOKE FLAVORING, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM LACTATE, SODIUM NITRITE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE)

    Read the full ingredient profile for Smoked Ham

  • Is Provolone Cheese safe in this food?

    Medium

    Provolone Cheese is used here as base. Provolone cheese adds flavor and creaminess but is a dairy product that may not suit all dietary preferences.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: NONSMOKED PROVOLONE CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES)

    Read the full ingredient profile for Provolone Cheese

  • Is Genoa Salami safe in this food?

    Bad

    Genoa Salami is used here as base. Genoa salami contains sodium nitrite and BHA, both of which are synthetic preservatives associated with health concerns.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: GENOA SALAMI (PORK, BEEF, SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF DEXTROSE, WATER, SPICES, SODIUM ASCORBATE, LACTIC ACID STARTER CULTURE, GARLIC POWDER, SODIUM NITRITE, BHA, BHT, CITRIC ACID)

    Read the full ingredient profile for Genoa Salami

  • Is Capicola safe in this food?

    Bad

    Capicola is used here as base. Capicola is another processed meat that contains sodium nitrite, raising concerns about processed meat consumption.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: FULLY COOKED CAPICOLA COATED WITH SPICES AND PAPRIKA (CURED WITH WATER, SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SODIUM LACTATE, SUGAR, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE)

  • Is Green Leaf Lettuce safe in this food?

    Good

    Green Leaf Lettuce is used here as base. Green leaf lettuce adds freshness and some nutritional value, contributing positively to the overall composition.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: GREEN LEAF LETTUCE

    Read the full ingredient profile for Green Leaf Lettuce

  • Is Pepperoni safe in this food?

    Bad

    Pepperoni is used here as base. Pepperoni is a processed meat that typically contains preservatives like sodium nitrite, raising health concerns.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: PEPPERONI

    Read the full ingredient profile for Pepperoni

How we score

Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.

Product info

Product ID: 2415298

More from this brand: Giant Eagle products in Zerotox

Similar products: food in Zerotox database

Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Based on our data we do not detect fragrance in this product's listed ingredients. Formulations can change; check the label.
Giant Eagle — Whole Italian Sub has a Zerotox score of 55 / 100 among food products. See the full breakdown above.
This product includes positive or neutral ingredients such as: green leaf lettuce. See the Ingredients section above.
Giant Eagle — Whole Italian Sub has a Zerotox safety score of 55 / 100. Higher scores mean fewer concerning ingredients. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Zerotox gives Giant Eagle — Whole Italian Sub 55 / 100 based on ingredients. Ultra-processed foods often have many additives; see the breakdown above. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Our analysis indicates animal-derived ingredients may be present in this product. See the Ingredients section and the label for details.
The composition includes several processed meats like Genoa salami and fully cooked smoked ham, which contain sodium nitrite and BHA, raising safety concerns. The presence of multiple preservatives indicates a highly processed product. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Main concerns for this product: Sodium nitrite in meats raises concerns about potential health risks associated with processed meats.; BHA and BHT are synthetic preservatives that may pose safety concerns due to their controversial nature.. See the full list above.
Browse Giant Eagle products on Zerotox with ingredient analysis and safety scores.
Our analysis notes: Includes green leaf lettuce, providing some fresh vegetable content.; Contains provolone cheese, which adds flavor and texture to the sub.. See the Pros section above.
Check the Ingredients section above. Zerotox flags preservatives, colours and other additives; see the full list.
This depends on the ingredient profile. People with sensitive skin or scalp, users avoiding fragrance, sulfates or animal-derived ingredients, and cautious shoppers should review the breakdown above before buying. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.

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