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Great Value Shells & Cheese Three Cheese
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Macaroni and cheese

Great Value Shells & Cheese Three Cheese

7.25 oz

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in salt
  • Seed-oil free
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 50

Great Value Shells & Cheese Three Cheese scores 50 out of 100 (Okay) 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. 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
  3. Salt 2.2 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. 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

Shells & Cheese Three Cheese

START100

Ingredients

  • Modified starch
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • 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. [2]
  • Caseinate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Gum arabic (acacia)
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • 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. [3][1]
subtotal−12

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [1]
  • 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [1]
subtotal−25.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 11.4 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [4]
  • Salt 2.2 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [5]
  • Energy 571 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [6]
  • Protein 12.9 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [6]
subtotal−13
TOTAL 50Okay

100 − 50.5 = 49.5 → 50

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]

GTIN 00078742141336 · 2026-05-28

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy571 kcal
Fat2.1 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates72.9 g
Sugars11.4 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber2.9 g
Protein12.9 g
Salt2.2 g

Serving: 1 portion (70 g)

Ingredients

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

ENRICHED MACARONI (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), CHEDDAR CHEESE SEASONING (DAIRY PRODUCT SOLIDS, ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR WHEAT, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], SALT, MILK, CHEDDAR, MONTEREY JACK AND BLUE CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, ENZYMES, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT], MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BUTTER OIL, MILK SOLIDS, LACTIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, CREAM, ANNATTO EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM CASEINATE, PAPRIKA EXTRACT, GUM ARABIC, NATURAL FLAVORINGS).

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 Great Value

Sources

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  2. 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

  3. 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

  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. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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