Macaroni & Beef in Tomato Sauce

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Macaroni & Beef in Tomato Sauce 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.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Frozen Dinners, this product is more processed than about 37% of the 5,358 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 Macaroni & Beef in Tomato 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: Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Semolina [Enriched With Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]).

Natural sources but industrial application.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Beef Base (Roasted Beef And Concentrated Beef Stock, Salt, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein [Soy, Corn, Wheat], Corn Oil, Sugar, Autolyzed Yeast, Flavoring, Maltodextrin, Dried Whey, Dextrose, Caramel Color), Maltodextrin And Natural Flavor.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Canola Oil, Margarine (Liquid And Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Salt, Less Than 2% Vegetable Mono And Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Bha & Bht Added To Protect Flavor, Vitamin A Palmitate And Vitamin D3 Added).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.