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Annie's Macaroni & Classic Cheddar
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Macaroni and cheese

Annie's Macaroni & Classic Cheddar

6 oz (170 g)

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 61

Annie's Macaroni & Classic Cheddar scores 61 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. Salt 2.3 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
  3. 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, color (added) and flavoring. Emerging

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better macaroni and cheese

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Macaroni & Classic Cheddar

START100

Ingredients

  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [1][2]
  • Sodium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [3]
  • Silicon dioxide
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [2]
subtotal−7.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [2]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, color (added) and flavoring. [2]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 7 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some sugar. [4]
  • Saturated fat 3.5 g / 100 g
    Strong High in saturated fat. [5]
  • Salt 2.3 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [6]
  • Energy 380 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [7]
  • Fiber 4.2 g / 100 g
    Strong A good source of fiber. [7]
  • Protein 11.3 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [7]
subtotal−11
TOTAL 61Good

100 − 39.5 = 60.5 → 61

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]

GTIN 00013562000456 · 2026-09-11

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy380 kcal
Fat6.3 g
Saturated fat3.5 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates69 g
Sugars7 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber4.2 g
Protein11.3 g
Salt2.3 g

Serving: 1 serving (71 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

Organic Pasta (organic wheat flour), Whey, Cultured Cream, Cheddar Cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, non-animal enzymes), Salt, Corn Starch, Nonfat Milk, Butter (pasteurized cream, salt), Natural Flavor, Annatto Extract (for color), Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide (for anticaking).

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest macaroni and cheese in the US

More from Annie's

Sources

  1. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  2. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  3. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  5. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  6. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  7. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  8. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org