Pasta dishes
Annie's 25% Less Sodium Mac & Cheese Made with Organic Pasta
6 oz (170 g)
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Certified organic
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 72
Annie's 25% Less Sodium Mac & Cheese Made with Organic Pasta scores 72 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 5 points Salt 1.4 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
- plus 5 points Certified organic: Carries a certified-organic label. Info
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better macaroni and cheese
-
Vegan Mac Chickapea Not ultra-processed · No sodium phosphate Score 96 out of 100 , 24 points higher -
Gluten Free White Cheddar Mac & Cheese Jovial · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · No silicon dioxide Score 87 out of 100 , 15 points higher -
Pasta And Cheddar Annie's · 6 oz Not ultra-processed Score 86 out of 100 , 14 points higher -
Macaroni & Cheese Heinen's · 9 oz Not ultra-processed · No sodium phosphate Score 99 out of 100 , 27 points higher -
Mac and Cheese Kidfresh · 29 oz Not ultra-processed · No sodium phosphate Score 94 out of 100 , 22 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Annie's 25% Less Sodium Mac & Cheese Made with Organic Pasta
Ingredients
- Sodium phosphate minus 2.5 points
- Silicon dioxide minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 7 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 2.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Salt 1.4 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 380 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 4.2 g / 100 g plus 2 points
- Protein 12.7 g / 100 g plus 2 points
Bonuses
- Certified organic plus 5 points
100 − 28.5 = 71.5 → 72
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 5.6 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.8 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69 g |
| Sugars | 7 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 4.2 g |
| Protein | 12.7 g |
| Salt | 1.4 g |
Serving: 1 cup (160 g)
Ingredients
- Organic Pasta (organic wheat flour)
- Dried Cheddar Cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, non-animal enzymes)
- Whey
- Nonfat Milk
- Butter (pasteurized cream, salt)
- Salt
- Cultured Whole Milk
- Sodium Phosphate
- Annatto Extract (for color)
- Silicon Dioxide (for anticaking)
Label text, as published
Organic Pasta (organic wheat flour), Dried Cheddar Cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, non-animal enzymes), Whey, Nonfat Milk, Butter (pasteurized cream, salt), Salt, Cultured Whole Milk, Sodium Phosphate, Annatto Extract (for color), Silicon Dioxide (for anticaking).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten
May contain: Soy, Egg
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“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
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)
“Any agricultural product that is sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be: (a) Produced in accordance with the requirements specified in § 205.101 or §§ 205.202 through 205.207”
ecfr.gov
-
“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