Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes ultra-processed?

1.36 kg Instant mashed potatoes Sold in the United States and Mexico

Pack of Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 19 ingredients
  • 5 additives

Less processed instant mashed potatoes

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

idahoⓡ potatoes, vegetable oil (vegetable oil (coconut sunflower vegetable oil)), maltodextrin, salt, sugar, buttermilk, nonfat dry milk, butter (cream, salt), monoglycerides, calcium stearoyl lactylate, natural flavors, freshness preserved by sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bisulfite, citric acid, and MIXED TOCOPHEROLS

Additives: E222 Sodium bisulphite , E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E330 Citric acid , E450 Diphosphates , E450i Disodium diphosphate

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E450 Diphosphates.

As written on the pack

IDAHOⓇ POTATOES, VEGETABLE OIL (COCONUT SUNFLOWER), MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, SUGAR, BUTTERMILK POWDER, NONFAT DRY MILK, BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), MONOGLYCERIDES, CALCIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, NATURAL FLAVORS. FRESHNESS PRESERVED BY SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BISULFITE, CITRIC ACID, AND MIXED TOCOPHEROLS. CONTAINS: MILK.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E450 Diphosphates Diphosphates are phosphate salts used as raising agents in baking powder, and to hold water in processed meats and cheese.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
6 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Meals Products in the category "Meals" are at least group 3.
  • Butter Butter, the fat churned from cream.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Milk powder Milk powder is milk with the water evaporated off: a preserved form of a whole food rather than an industrial extract.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 25 instant mashed potatoes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 22nd. 76% of the instant mashed potatoes here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 25 instant mashed potatoes, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0029700001414, last edited 14 September 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.