Is Cheeseburger Macaroni & Cheese Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Michelina's
Cheeseburger Macaroni & Cheese is one of the food products analyzed by Zerotox for Michelina's. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Sodium Phosphate, Sugar, Modified Food Starch affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes several processed ingredients like sodium phosphate and modified food starch, which raise quality concerns. The presence of sugar and artificial colors also detracts from the overall safety assessment.
Main concern
Presence of sugar and sodium phosphate raises concerns about excessive additives and processed ingredients.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains cooked enriched macaroni, providing a base of durum semolina, which is a good source of carbohydrates.
- Includes cheddar cheese and half and half, contributing dairy elements that enhance flavor and texture.
- The use of beef patty crumble adds protein content, making it a more filling meal option.
- Natural flavors and spices in ketchup and cheese flavor enhance taste without artificial additives.
Concerns
- Presence of sugar and sodium phosphate raises concerns about excessive additives and processed ingredients.
- Modified food starch is a processed thickener that may not provide nutritional benefits.
- Annatto and caramel color are artificial colorants that can indicate a highly processed product.
- Soy protein isolate and textured vegetable protein may raise concerns for those sensitive to soy.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- users trying to avoid sulfates
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this food.
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Is Water safe in this food?
Good
Water is used here as base. Water serves as a primary ingredient, providing moisture and aiding in cooking the macaroni.
Role in formula: base
Original: water
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Is Durum Semolina safe in this food?
Good
Durum Semolina is used here as base. Durum semolina is a high-quality wheat product that forms the macaroni, contributing carbohydrates and texture.
Role in formula: base
Original: durum semolina [enriched with niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid]
-
Is Cooked Beef Patty Crumble safe in this food?
Medium
Cooked Beef Patty Crumble is used here as flavor. Cooked beef patty crumble adds protein and flavor, but its processing raises concerns about quality.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: cooked beef patty crumble (hamburger, water, soy protein isolate, textured vegetable protein [soy protein concentrate, caramel color], soy sauce powder [soy sauce {fermented soybeans, wheat, salt}, maltodextrin], dehydrated onions, sugar, salt)
-
Is Half And Half safe in this food?
Good
Half And Half is used here as base. Half and half combines milk and cream, enriching the dish with dairy fat and flavor.
Role in formula: base
Original: half and half (milk, cream)
-
Is Cheddar Cheese safe in this food?
Good
Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Cheddar cheese provides flavor and creaminess, made from pasteurized milk and cultures.
Role in formula: base
Original: cheddar cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes]
-
Is Sodium Phosphate safe in this food?
Bad
Sodium Phosphate is used here as emulsifier. Sodium phosphate is used as an emulsifier but raises concerns due to its synthetic nature and potential health implications.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: sodium phosphate
-
Is Sugar safe in this food?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is added for flavor but contributes to excessive sweetness and raises health concerns.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: sugar
-
Is Annatto safe in this food?
Medium
Annatto is used here as colorant. Annatto is a natural colorant used for visual appeal, but its processing may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: annatto [color]
-
Is Modified Food Starch safe in this food?
Bad
Modified Food Starch is used here as thickener. Modified food starch is a processed thickener that may not provide nutritional benefits and raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: modified food starch
-
Is Ketchup safe in this food?
Medium
Ketchup is used here as flavor. Ketchup adds flavor but contains sugar and preservatives, which may detract from overall quality.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: ketchup (tomato concentrate, distilled vinegar, sugar, salt, onion powder, spices, natural flavoring)
-
Is Xanthan Gum safe in this food?
Medium
Xanthan Gum is used here as thickener. Xanthan gum is a thickening agent that helps improve texture but is a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: xanthan gum
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3408487
More from this brand: Michelina's products in Zerotox
Similar products: food in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: soy , milk , wheat
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.