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Great Value Thick & creamy macaroni & cheese
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Pastas

Great Value Thick & creamy macaroni & cheese

7.25 oz/206 g

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

Great Value Thick & creamy macaroni & 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. 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), firming agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and modified starch. Emerging
  3. Salt 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

Thick & creamy macaroni & 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]
  • Whey protein concentrate / isolate
    Info An ingredient 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. [2][1]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
  • Calcium lactate
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [1]
subtotal−12

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [1]
  • 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), firming agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and modified starch. [1]
subtotal−26

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 11.4 g / 100 g
    Strong High in sugar. [3]
  • Salt 2 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in salt. [4]
  • Energy 371 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [5]
  • Protein 12.9 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [5]
subtotal−12
TOTAL 50Okay

100 − 50 = 50

Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]

GTIN 00078742230610 · 2026-08-28

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy371 kcal
Fat2.1 g
Saturated fat0.7 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates71.4 g
Sugars11.4 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber2.9 g
Protein12.9 g
Salt2 g

Serving: 0.333 box (70 g)

Ingredients

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

ENRICHED MACARONI (WHEAT FLOUR, DURUM FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE MIX (WHEY, DEHYDRATED CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, COLOR ADDED [ANNATTO EXTRACT], YEAST EXTRACT, LACTIC ACID POWDER [LACTIC ACID, CALCIUM LACTATE]).

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest pastas 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. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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