Pasta Sides Cheesey Bacon Macaroni

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Pasta Sides Cheesey Bacon Macaroni scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor (Milk)): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate): Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.
• Processed Fruit Products (Onion Juice Concentrate): Concentrates and extracts indicate significant processing.

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 Pasta Sides Cheesey Bacon Macaroni'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.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Enriched Macaroni Product [Semolina And Durum Flour (Wheat), Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid].

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Bacon [ (Cured With Water, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Nitrite), Hickory Smoke Flavor], Sodium Citrate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin (Corn, Potato).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Torula Yeast, Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.