Banquet Basic Fish Sticks with Mac and Cheese, 6.2 Oz

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Banquet Basic Fish Sticks with Mac and Cheese, 6.2 Oz scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch, Of: Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Other Additives (Sodium Phosphates): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Modified Cellulose): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Sodium Caseinate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate 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 Fish Sticks with Mac and Cheese, 6.2 Oz'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, Vegetable Oil (Soybean And/Or Canola).

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.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt, Iodized 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, Caramel Color.

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]). Fish Sticks: Minced Alaska Pollock.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.