Macaroni and cheese
Cracker barrel sharp cheddar macaroni cheese single
3.8 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 27
Cracker barrel sharp cheddar macaroni cheese single scores 27 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7.5 points 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), emulsifier, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better macaroni and cheese
-
mac & cheese DELUXE ORIGINAL CHEDDAR Kraft · 14 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 71 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Macaroni & Classic Cheddar Annie's · 170 g No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 72 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
White Cheddar Shells Banza · 5.5 oz/156 g Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 74 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Pasta and Cheddar Annie's · 1 oz Less salt · No added sugars Score 72 out of 100 , 45 points higher -
Shella Good Aged White Cheddar And Shells Goodles · 6 oz Less salt · No added sugars Score 73 out of 100 , 46 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Cracker barrel sharp cheddar macaroni cheese single
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points
- Sorbic acid minus 0.5 points
- Sodium alginate minus 0.5 points
- Modified starch minus 0.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 0.5 points
- Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides minus 0.5 points
- Soybean oil minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 5.5 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Saturated fat 4.6 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Salt 2.2 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 321 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Protein 11 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 73 = 27
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [15]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 321 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 10.1 g |
| Saturated fat | 4.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47.7 g |
| Sugars | 5.5 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1.8 g |
| Protein | 11 g |
| Salt | 2.2 g |
Serving: 1 bowl (109 g)
Ingredients
- ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WHEAT FLOUR, GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE [IRON], THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID)
- CHEESE SAUCE (WHEY, CHEDDAR CHEESE, CANOLA OIL, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, MILK, SALT, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SKIM MILK, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], SODIUM ALGINATE, MILKFAT, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA [COLOR], CHEESE CULTURE, ANNATTO EXTRACT [COLOR], ENZYMES)
- SEASONING (MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MALTODEXTRIN, SPICE [CONTAINS MUSTARD], SALT, ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDES, GARLIC, ONION, PAPRIKA)
- BREADCRUMB (WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, SPICE, YEAST, GARLIC, SALT)
Label text, as published
ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WHEAT FLOUR, GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE [IRON], THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), CHEESE SAUCE (WHEY, CHEDDAR CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES, ANNATTO (COLOR)], CANOLA OIL, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, MILK, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SKIM MILK, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], SODIUM ALGINATE, MILKFAT, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA [COLOR], CHEESE CULTURE, ANNATTO EXTRACT [COLOR], ENZYMES), SEASONING (MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MALTODEXTRIN, SPICE [CONTAINS MUSTARD], SALT, ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDES, GARLIC, ONION*, PAPRIKA), BREADCRUMB (WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, SOYBEAN OIL, SPICE, YEAST, GARLIC, SALT). "DRIED.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Mustard
- Not vegan
- Not gluten-free
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More macaroni and cheese on GoodSwap
-
Mac & Cheese Kraft · 7.25 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltSeed-oil freeNo synthetic dyes Score 59 out of 100 Okay -
Cheddy Mac Creamy Cheddar And Macaroni Goodles · 6 oz Ultra-processedContains added sugarsSeed-oil freeNo synthetic dyes Score 52 out of 100 Okay -
Shells & Real Aged Cheddar Annie's · 71 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltCertified organicNo synthetic dyes Score 65 out of 100 Good -
Mac and Cheese Original Macaroni & Cheese Kroger Ultra-processedNo synthetic dyes Score 76 out of 100 Good -
Shells & Cheese Three Cheese Great Value · 7.25 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltSeed-oil freeNo synthetic dyes Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese Trader Joe's · 12 oz (340 g) Ultra-processedSeed-oil freeNo synthetic dyes Score 74 out of 100 Good
More from Cracker Barrel
Sources
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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
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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
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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“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
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
-
“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
-
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
-
“By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”
doi.org
-
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
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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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
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Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“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
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“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