Is Idahoan Original Mashed Potatoes ultra-processed?

22 g Instant mashed potatoes Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

E450 Diphosphates
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

6 ingredients
6 additives

Less processed instant mashed potatoes

Stutz Packing Co. Basic American Foods 7 ingredients · 3 additives NOVA group 1
Instant Mash Potato Morrisons Savers 3 ingredients · 1 additive NOVA group 1
Mashed potato with milk, butter and seasoning Co-op 5 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Mashed Potato Inspired Cuisine 6 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3

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 with emulsifier (mono- and DIGLYCERIDES (ultra-processing marker)), sodium acid pyrophosphate (ultra-processing marker), sodium bisulfite, citric acid, mixed tocopherols

Additives: E222 Sodium bisulphite , E306 Tocopherol-rich extract , E330 Citric acid , E450 Diphosphates , E450i Disodium diphosphate , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

IDAHO POTATOES WITH EMULSIFIER (MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES) AND PRESERVATIVE (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BISULFITE, CITRIC ACID, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS).

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.
E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 25 instant mashed potatoes

From least to most processed, this one ranks 17th. 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 0029700001148, last edited 28 August 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.