Macaroni and cheese
Goodles Creamy Cheddar And Macaroni
170 g
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Seed-oil free
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 49
Goodles Creamy Cheddar And Macaroni scores 49 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Maple syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 5 points Sugars 9.5 g / 100 g: High in sugar. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better pasta
-
Macaroni Product Trader Joe's · 16 oz (1 lb ) 454 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Elbow Macaroni Creamette · 16 oz/454 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Organic Orzo Bronze Cut Macaroni Product Whole Foods Market · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Enriched Macaroni Product Extra Broad No Yolks · 12 oz/340 g Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
Enriched macaroni product, elbows, spaghetti, penne Barilla · 6 lb/2.72 kg Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 100 out of 100 , 51 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Creamy Cheddar And Macaroni
Ingredients
- Maple syrup minus 20 points
- Wheat gluten minus 2.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 9.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Saturated fat 2 g / 100 g minus 1 points
- Salt 1.7 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 351 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
- Fiber 9.5 g / 100 g plus 4 points
- Protein 18.9 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 51.5 = 48.5 → 49
Can’t score above 79. Contains maple syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [8]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 351 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4.7 g |
| Saturated fat | 2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 63.5 g |
| Sugars | 9.5 g |
| Added sugars | 0.6 g |
| Fiber | 9.5 g |
| Protein | 18.9 g |
| Salt | 1.7 g |
Serving: 74g
Ingredients
- GOODLES MACARONI (WHEAT FLOUR, CHICKPEA PROTEIN, WHEAT PROTEIN, NUTRIENTS EXTRACTED FROM BROCCOLI, SPINACH, KALE, PUMPKIN, SWEET POTATO, SUNFLOWER SEED, CRANBERRY, CHLORELLA, MAITAKE MUSHROOM, SHIITAKE MUSHROOM)
- CHEDDAR CHEESE BLEND (CULTURED MILK, WHEY, BUTTERMILK, SALT, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, ANNATTO, PAPRIKA, TURMERIC, ENZYMES)
- BUTTER (CREAM, SALT)
- SALT
- TAPIOCA FLOUR
- DRIED MAPLE SYRUP (high concern)
- LACTIC ACID
- NONFAT DRY MILK
Label text, as published
GOODLES MACARONI (WHEAT FLOUR, CHICKPEA PROTEIN, WHEAT PROTEIN, NUTRIENTS EXTRACTED FROM BROCCOLI, SPINACH, KALE, PUMPKIN, SWEET POTATO, SUNFLOWER SEED, CRANBERRY, CHLORELLA, MAITAKE MUSHROOM, SHIITAKE MUSHROOM), CHEDDAR CHEESE BLEND (CULTURED MILK, WHEY, BUTTERMILK, SALT, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, ANNATTO, PAPRIKA, TURMERIC, ENZYMES), BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), SALT, TAPIOCA FLOUR, DRIED MAPLE SYRUP, LACTIC ACID, NONFAT DRY MILK.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk, Wheat, Gluten
- 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 -
Shell We Dance Aged White Cheddar Sauce Over Shells Goodles · 9 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saltContains seed oils Score 58 out of 100 Okay -
Voila Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese Skillet Birds Eye · 42 oz Ultra-processedContains nitrites or nitratesContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Trader Joe's Ultra-processedContains seed oilsNo synthetic dyes Score 56 out of 100 Okay
More from Goodles
Sources
-
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
-
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
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
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
-
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
-
“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