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Birds Eye Voila Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese Skillet
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Macaroni and cheese

Birds Eye Voila Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese Skillet

42 oz

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains nitrites or nitrates
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
  • Contains palm oil
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 20

Birds Eye Voila Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese Skillet scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Corn syrup solids: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

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

Voila Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese Skillet

START100

Ingredients

  • Corn syrup solids
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Bacon
    Regulatory IARC classifies processed meat (cured, salted, smoked or fermented) as Group 1, based on colorectal cancer; each 50 g eaten daily is linked to an 18% higher risk. [4][5]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [6]
  • 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), emulsifier, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [6]
subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 1.3 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some saturated fat. [7]
  • Salt 0.9 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [8]
subtotal−4
TOTAL 20Poor

100 − 80 = 20

Can’t score above 79. Contains corn syrup solids, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][9][10][11][12]

GTIN 00014500019950 · 2026-06-15

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy133 kcal
Fat3.1 g
Saturated fat1.3 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates19.1 g
Sugars1.8 g
Added sugars0.2 g
Fiber0.9 g
Protein6.7 g
Salt0.9 g

Serving: 1 serving (225 g)

Ingredients

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

COOKED ENRICHED GEMELLI PASTA (WATER, ENRICHED DURUM WHEAT SEMOLINA [SEMOLINA, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), SAUCE (WATER, PASTEURIZED PROCESS CHEESE SAUCE CONCENTRATE [MILK, PALM OIL, WHEY, WATER, MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: CHEESE CULTURE, CITRIC ACID, ENZYMES, LACTIC ACID, SALT, SODIUM ALGINATE, SUGAR, XANTHAN GUM], THREE CHEESE SEASONING [CHEESE POWDER (CHEDDAR, MONTEREY JACK AND PARMESAN CHEESES (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), WHEY, SALT, PALM OIL BLEND (PALM OIL, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, SODIUM CASEINATE, DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, MONOGLYCERIDES), MODIFIED CORN STARCH, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVORS (BUTTERMILK SOLIDS AND ENZYME MODIFIED CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES)}, ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, ENZYME, FOLIC ACID), AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, ONION POWDER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: BUTTER, SODIUM CASEINATE, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, GARLIC POWDER, LACTIC ACID, SPICES, PAPRIKA EXTRACT, TURMERIC EXTRACT, ANNATTO EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID], RANCH SEASONING [MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, BUTTERMILK, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SPICES, CITRIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: NATURAL FLAVOR, LACTIC ACID], MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BACON [CURED WITH WATER, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE. MAY CONTAIN SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, AND/OR SMOKE FLAVORING], DISODIUM PHOSPHATE DEHYDRATED RED BELL PEPPER), COOKED CHICKEN (WHITE MEAT CHICKEN, WATER, OLIVE OIL, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN PRODUCT ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, CORN STARCH, CARRAGEENAN, SOY LECITHIN], DEXTROSE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, FLAVORING), BROCCOLI.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten

  • Not vegan
  • Not vegetarian
  • Not gluten-free
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Mixed plastics

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest macaroni and cheese in the US

More from Birds Eye

Sources

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat (Press Release No. 240)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · Oct 26, 2015 · IARC

    “Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer.”

    iarc.who.int

  5. Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat (IARC Monographs Vol. 114 working group summary)

    The Lancet Oncology · December 2015 · IARC

    doi.org

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  10. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2108 of 6 October 2023 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 and the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards food additives nitrites (E 249–250) and nitrates (E 251–252)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 6, 2023 · Law

    “the presence of nitrites and nitrates in foods can give rise to the formation of nitrosamines some of which are carcinogenic.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  11. EFSA confirms safe levels for nitrites and nitrates added to food

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 15, 2017 · Agency assessment

    “They concluded that when nitrites are used at approved levels, their contribution to overall exposure to nitrosamines is of low concern for health.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  12. Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern

    European Food Safety Authority · Mar 28, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “Nitrosamines in food raise a health concern”

    efsa.europa.eu

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome

    Nature · Mar 5, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    “carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”

    doi.org

  16. Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

    Gastroenterology · March 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”

    doi.org

  17. Food additive emulsifiers and risk of cardiovascular disease in the NutriNet-Santé cohort: prospective cohort study

    BMJ · Sep 6, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”

    doi.org

  18. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu