Macaroni and Cheese

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Macaroni and 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.

Modified StarchesStrong UPF marker

In this product: Modified Rice Starch, Modified Corn Starch.

Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Cooked Enriched Pasta Water, Enriched Pasta Durum Wheat Semolina, Egg White, Niacin, Iron [Ferrous Sulfate], Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid].

Natural sources but industrial application.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Margarine (Liquid And Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Of Vegetable Mono & Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate [A Preservative], Citric Acid, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Calcium Disodium Edta Added To Protect Flavor, Beta Carotene [Color], Vitamin A Palmitate Added), Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Cheese Flavor (Cream, Cheddar And Bleu Cheese [Milk, Starter Cultures, Salt, Enzymes, Water, Nonfat Dry Milk, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate], Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Starter Cultures, Salt, Enzymes, Water, Disodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate], Cheese [Milk, Salt, Starter Cultures, Enzymes, Water, Whey Powder, Nonfat Dry Milk, Salt, Disodium Phosphate], Maltodextrin, Autolyzed Yeast Extract).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Potassium Chloride.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Annatto Extract (Refined Soy Bean Oil, Annatto Extract, Mono & Di-Glycerides).

Natural sources but still indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.