Chickpea Pasta Mac & Cheese, Shells + Cacio E Pepe

Why Does This Score Highly Processed?

In our analysis, Chickpea Pasta Mac & Cheese, Shells + Cacio E Pepe scores Highly Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Plant Proteins (Pea Protein): Isolated proteins require extensive industrial processing.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum Cheese: Parmesan Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes)): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Boxed Dinners & Sides, this product is more processed than about 25% of the 4,145 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 Chickpea Pasta Mac & Cheese, Shells + Cacio E Pepe'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.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Safflower Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Anti-Caking AgentsProcessing indicator

In this product: Silicon Dioxide (Anticaking).

Common in powdered processed foods.