Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Spaghetti with Meat 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 Spaghetti with Meat 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 Product (Water, Durum Wheat Semolina, Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).

Natural sources but industrial application.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Cooked Beef Patty Crumble (Beef, Water, Textured Soy Flour, Soy Protein Concentrate, Salt, Spices, Contains Less Than 2% Of Sugar, Sodium Phosphates, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Natural Flavors, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Canola Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract (With Salt).

Industrial fermentation for additive production.