Banquet Basic Chicken Finger with Mac and Cheese Meal

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Banquet Basic Chicken Finger with Mac and Cheese Meal scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Other Additives (Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Tripolyphosphate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Prepared Entrees, this product is more processed than about 53% of the 6,999 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Banquet Basic Chicken Finger with Mac and Cheese Meal's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Cheese Flavor (Whey, Cheese [Granular And Blue {Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzyme}], Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid), Sugar, Bread Crumbs ( Bleached Wheat Flour, Salt, Dextrose, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Spice, Extractives Of Paprika), Batter Mix (Yellow Corn Flour, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Salt, Spices, Sugar, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Modified Corn Starch, Garlic Powder, Guar Gum, Leavening [Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate]).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Beta Carotene.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Elbow Macaroni (Enriched Pasta [Durum Wheat Semolina, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]). Breaded Chicken Breast Tender With Rib Meat: Chicken Breast With Rib Meat.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.