Smothered Beef

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Smothered Beef 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 Smothered Beef'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.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: White Bread (Unbleached Enriched Flour [Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Water, Milk, Sugar, Butter [Made From Milk], Wheat Gluten, Yeast, Contains 2% Or Less Of Soybean Oil, Salt, Dough Conditioners [Contains One Or More Of: Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate, Monoglycerides, Mono And Diglycerides, Distilled Monoglycerides, Calcium Peroxide, Calcium Iodate, Datem, Ethoxylated Mono-And Diglycerides, Enzymes, Ascorbic Acid], Honey, Calcium Sulfate, Wheat Starch, Wheat Flour, Soy Lecithin, Ammonium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Soy Flour, Calcium Propionate), Cooked Seasoned Beef And Modified Food Starch Steak Strips (Beef, Water, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Dextrose, Sodium Phosphate), Vegetable Base (Vegetables [Carrots, Celery, Onion], Sugar, Maltodextrin, Corn Oil, Salt, Cornstarch, Autolyzed Yeast Extract And Natural Flavorings), Beef Base (Roasted Beef And Concentrated Beef Stock, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy, Corn And Wheat Protein, Corn Oil, Sugar, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Flavorings [Contains Oleoresin Of Celery Seed], Maltodextrin, Whey, Dextrose, Caramel Color), and 2 more.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Natural PreservativesProcessing indicator

In this product: Potato Flakes And Granules (Potatoes, Mono And Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Freshness Preserved With Sodium Bisulfite, Bha And Bht).

Natural sources but industrial application.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.