Tyson Fully Cooked Loaded Chicken Bites Mac and Cheese

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Tyson Fully Cooked Loaded Chicken Bites Mac and Cheese scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Food Starch, Modified Wheat Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Cheddar Cheese Seasoning Blends [Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Modified Corn Starch, Nonfat Dry Milk, Dried Whey, Dried Cream, Butter (Cream, Salt), Salt, Sugar, Less Than 2% Of Buttermilk Solids, Lactic Acid, Guar Gum, Methylcellulose, Natural Flavors, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Soy Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide (Anti-Caking)]): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Poultry, this product is more processed than about 80% of the 2,120 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 Tyson Fully Cooked Loaded Chicken Bites Mac and 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.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese [ (Milk, Water, Salt, Cream, Cheese Culture, Sodium Phosphate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sorbic Acid {Preservative}, Enzymes, Lactic Acid, Color Added), Potato Starch Added To Prevent Caking, Natamycin (A Natural Mold Inhibitor)].

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Cooked Pasta (Water, Durum Wheat Semolina, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Sugar.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Cream Of Tartar, Sodium Bicarbonate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract, Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.