Lowes Foods, Shells & Cheese

Processing Score

12.4Ultra-Processed

02.55.08.010+

Nutrition Score

6/10Good

The processing score reflects 30 ingredients, including artificial colors, modified ingredients, enriched flour or grain, plus 1 more we flag. The nutrition score reflects high sodium.

Nutrition Highlights

Good Protein SourceGood Fiber Source

Nutrient Alerts

High Sodium

Data Updated

Oct 18, 2026

UPC

741643020948

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Nutrition Facts

Serving size70 g

Amount per serving

Calories

260

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 3g

Saturated Fat 1.5g

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol <5mg

Sodium 720mg

31%

Total Carbohydrate 49g

18%

Dietary Fiber 2g

Total Sugars 7g

Protein 10g

Calcium 100mg

Iron 1.8mg

10%

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

18 listed · 5 flagged for review

ENRICHED MACARONI (ENRICHED WHEAT AND DURUM FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, DURUM FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), CHEESE SAUCE MIX: WHEY, CHEDDAR/MONTEREY/BLUE CHEESES (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, NONFAT MILK, NATURAL FLAVORS, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CELLULOSE GUM, FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED, BUTTERMILK, DISODIUM PHOSOHATE, CITRIC ACID, CELLULOSE SEL, TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6, SILICON DIOXIDE.

Listed in source order (heaviest first). Select any ingredient to see its category bucket and other products that contain it.

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

Artificial Colors (Yellow 5, Yellow 6): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
Natural Flavors (Natural Flavors): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
Processed Dairy Ingredients (Whey Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
Stabilizers & Gums (Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Sel): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Phosohate): Industrial flavor enhancement 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 Lowes Foods, Shells & 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.

Other AdditivesUPF marker

In this product: Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate.

Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Enriched Macaroni (Enriched Wheat And Durum Flour [Wheat Flour, Durum Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]).

Natural sources but industrial application.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Anti-Caking AgentsProcessing indicator

In this product: Silicon Dioxide.

Common in powdered processed foods.

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