Stoufer’s
Flavor:
Baked White Mac & Cheese
Ingredients:
Cooked Pasta (Water, Semolina Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten), Water, Skim Milk, American Cheese Spread (Cheddar And Colby Cheese [pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Skim Milk, Milkfat, Salt, Carrageenan, Cellulose Gum), Soybean Oil, Breadcrumbs (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Salt), Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), 2% Or Less Of Modified Cornstarch, Cream Blend (Cream, Nonfat Milk), Parmesan Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Potassium Chloride, Lactose (Contains Milk), Bleached Wheat Flour, Salt, Garlic Powder, Spice, Autolyzed Yeast extract, Potassium Citrate, Maltodextrin, Paprika, Natural Flavor, Turmeric & Annatto Color.
Rating: We Avoid
- 1 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Rated at 1/5 green leaves, Stouffer’s Baked White Mac & Cheese offers a classic comfort food option, yet it falls short when evaluated against standards for cleaner eating. This product is not organic and includes genetically modified ingredients, which detracts from its overall score. The presence of added sugars, such as sugar listed in the breadcrumbs, contributes to its low rating.
The ingredient list reveals several additives that raise concerns. Specifically, the product contains natural flavors, which are often ambiguous in composition, and carrageenan, an additive some studies have linked to digestive issues. Maltodextrin, another ingredient found in the mac and cheese, is frequently derived from genetically modified corn and is used as a thickener or filler. Both of these ingredients lead to significant deductions in the product’s score.
Additionally, soybean oil is used in the recipe, which is another ingredient the scoring system penalizes. Soybean oil is often heavily processed and may be sourced from genetically modified soybeans, which aligns with the product’s deduction for GMO ingredients.
The Stouffer’s Baked White Mac & Cheese does not meet the criteria for those seeking cleaner, less processed food options. The combination of non-organic status, GMOs, added sugars, and questionable additives contribute to its low score. The product’s composition, with multiple ingredients that fall outside the parameters of what is considered clean and healthy by the website’s standards, leads to the recommendation to avoid this particular food item for consumers focused on cleaner eating habits. The 1/5 green leaves rating reflects the product’s position at the bottom of the scale for health-conscious consumers navigating the complex landscape of food choices.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
None
Alternatives
No Items found.
How We Rate
Every company today has a responsibility to be a net positive for the planet,
for society, and for our ecosystem