Frozen foods
Birds Eye veggie Mac & Cheese
10 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 61
Birds Eye veggie Mac & Cheese scores 61 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 4.5 points 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
- minus 3 points Salt 0.8 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better frozen vegetables
-
Veggie Spirals Butternut Squash Green Giant · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Veggie Spirals Green Giant · 10 oz/283 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix Trader Joe's · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
I California blend veggie steamers Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Edamame & Veggie Bites with Hummus Snack Sensations · 6.5 oz/184 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 100 out of 100 , 39 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
veggie Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- Sunflower oil minus 2.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 2.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 1.5 points
- Guar gum minus 0.5 points
- Locust bean gum minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 1.6 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 0.8 g / 100 g minus 3 points
100 − 39.5 = 60.5 → 61
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 141 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.9 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16.9 g |
| Sugars | 1.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.1 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Salt | 0.8 g |
Serving: 1 portion (284 g)
Ingredients
- Cooked Lentil Zucchini Elbow Pasta (Water, Lentil Flour, Zucchini Powder)
- Water
- Cheddar Club Cheese (Pasteurized Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto [Color])
- Cheese Flavor (Whey, Cheddar Cheese, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Salt, Blue Cheese, Sodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid)
- Soybean Oil
- Modified Corn Starch
- Nonfat Dry Milk
- Salt
- Xanthan Gum
- Guar Gum
- Locust Bean Gum
- Annatto Extract (Color)
Label text, as published
Cooked Lentil Zucchini Elbow Pasta (Water, Lentil Flour, Zucchini Powder), Water, Cheddar Club Cheese (Pasteurized Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto [Color]), Cheese Flavor (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Salt, Blue Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Sodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid), Contains less than 2% of: Soybean Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Nonfat Dry Milk, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum, Annatto Extract (Color). CONTAINS: MILK.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Birds Eye
Sources
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“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
-
“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
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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
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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
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“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
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“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