Shells & 3 Cheese Dinner

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Shells & 3 Cheese Dinner scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Industrial Enzymes (Cheddar Cheese Sauce (Whey, Granular And Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Monterey Jack Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes]). Contains 2% Or Less Of Each Of The Following: Nonfat Milk, Enzymes): Industrial enzyme use indicates significant processing.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Whey Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Other Additives (Sodium Tripolyphosphate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum): Industrial stabilizers 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 Shells & 3 Cheese Dinner'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 (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).

Natural sources but industrial application.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Lactic Acid, Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.