Loaded Baked Flavored Mashed Potatoes

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Loaded Baked Flavored Mashed Potatoes scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup Solids): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Modified Proteins (Textured Vegetable Protein (Soy Flour, Caramel Color, Fd&C Red 3)): Extensive modification indicates UPF.
• Artificial Flavors (Natural And Artificial Flavor (Milk, Soy)): Synthetic flavors indicate industrial food production.
• Artificial Colors (Artificial Color (Including Fd&C Yellow 5 And #6)): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Sodium Caseinate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate 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 Loaded Baked Flavored Mashed Potatoes' ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Plant ProteinsUPF marker

In this product: Mono And Diglycerides Hydrolyzed Soy Protein.

Isolated proteins require extensive industrial processing.

Natural FlavorsUPF marker

In this product: Natural Smoke Flavor.

Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Flavor EnhancersUPF marker

In this product: Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate.

Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following: Coconut, Palm, Soybean, Cottonseed, Sunflower, Canola).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Four Cheese Blend [Cheddar Cheese Blend [Whey, Maltodextrin, Reduced Lactose Whey, Canola Oil, Cheddar And Blue Cheese Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes , Salt, Disodium Phosphate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Artificial Color Including Fd&C Yellow 6 And #5 ], Romano And Parmesan Cheeses [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes, Disodium Phosphate], Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Sugar, Dextrose, Maltodextrin.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.