Deluxe Shells & Aged Cheddar Cheese Sauce

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Deluxe Shells & Aged Cheddar Cheese Sauce scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavors): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Sodium Alginate, Xanthan Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Boxed Dinners & Sides, this product is more processed than about 53% 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 Deluxe Shells & Aged Cheddar Cheese Sauce'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: Enriched Macaroni (Durum And Enriched Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).

Natural sources but industrial application.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin (From Corn).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Lactic Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Annatto Extract.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.