Creamy Homestyle Macaroni & Cheese

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Creamy Homestyle Macaroni & Cheese 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.

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 Creamy Homestyle Macaroni & Cheese'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.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Cooked Enriched Elbow Macaroni (Water, Semolina [Wheat], Niacin, Iron [Ferrous Sulfate], Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).

Natural sources but industrial application.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Margarine [Liquid, And Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Salt, Whey, Soybean Lecithin, Vegetable Mono & Diglycerides, Sodium Benzoate {Preservative}, Artificial Flavor, Vitamin A Palmitate Added].

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Annatto Extract.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.