Potato Skins Stuffed with Bacon & Cheddar Cheese

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Potato Skins Stuffed with Bacon & Cheddar Cheese 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.
• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Dextrin): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Whey Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Xanthan Gum Sodium Alginate): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Frozen Appetizers, this product is more processed than about 39% of the 4,714 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 Potato Skins Stuffed with Bacon & Cheddar 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.

Flavor EnhancersUPF marker

In this product: Disodium Inosinate.

Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Cheese Sauce (Water, Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Canola Oil, Cream, Whey, Modified Food Starch (Tapioca And Corn), Sodium Phosphates, (Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavors, Anhydrous Butter Oil And Xanthan Gum), Salt, Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid (Preservative), Apo-Carotenal Color), Cheddar Cheese Blend (Whey, Cheddar Cheese (Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Maltodextrin, Buttermilk, Salt, Canola Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Color (Yellow 5 And 6, Annatto Extract)), Calcium Lactate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin, Sugar, Bacon Topping (Bacon Cured With Water, Salt, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite. May Contain: Sugar, Smoke Flavoring, Sodium Phosphate).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.