Buffalo Macaroni & Cheese, Buffalo

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Buffalo Macaroni & Cheese, Buffalo scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Chemical Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Sour Cream (Cultured Cream, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Citrate, Locust Bean Gum, Potassium Sorbate (To Maintain Freshness), Carrageenan), Buffalo Sauce ( (Distilled Vinegar, Aged Cayenne Red Peppers, Salt, Water, Canola Oil, Paprika, Xanthan Gum, Natural Butter Type Flavor, Garlic Powder), Maltodextrin)): 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 Buffalo Macaroni & Cheese, Buffalo'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.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Cooked Enriched Pasta Water, Elbow Macaroni Semolina Wheat , Niacin, Iron Ferrous Sulfate , Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (American Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Water, Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less Than 2% Of Milkfat, Salt, Sodium-Alginate, Lactic Acid, Apo-Carotenal (Color)), Buttermilk Ranch Seasoning (Sweet Cream Buttermilk, Sweet Whey, Dehydrated Garlic, Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Natural Flavors, Lactic Acid, Less Than 2% Of The Following: Cultured Whey. Citric Acid, Spices, Whey Protein Concentrate, Skim Milk Solids, Whole Milk Powder, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Caseinate, Cultured Buttermilk, Disodium Inosinate And Disodium Guanylate, Calcium Lactate, And Silicon Dioxide (Anti-Caking)).

Added minerals often compensate for processing.