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Is Idahoan Perfect Mash Cheddar Cheese flavoured ultra-processed?

109 g Instant mashed potatoes Sold in the United Kingdom and France

Pack of Idahoan Perfect Mash Cheddar Cheese flavoured

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:

  • 26 ingredients
  • 4 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 74%, Vegetable Oils (Coconut Vegetable Oils, Sunflower Vegetable Oils, Rapeseed Vegetable Oils), Cheese, Maltodextrin, Salt, Sugar, Milk, Skimmed Milk Powder, Cream, Flavourings, Preservatives (Diphosphates, Sodium Bisulphite), Colour (Paprika Extract), Spice Extract, Antioxidants (Tocopherol-rich extract, Citric Acid), see ingredients in bold STORAGE (Store in a dry place at room temperature, best before 27 jan 2024 mr1 12), 10

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

As written on the pack

Idaho® Potatoes (74%). Vegetable Oils (Coconut, Sunflower, Rapeseed), Dried Cheese (Milk) (6%) Maltodextrin, Salt, Sugar, Milk Solids, Skimmed Milk Powder. Cream (Milk), Flavourings, Preservatives (Diphosphates, Sodium Bisulphite (Sulphites)). Colour (Paprika Extract) Spice Extract, Antioxidants (Tocopherol-rich extract. Citric Acid). ALLERGY ADVICE: For allergens, see ingredients in bold SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS GLUTEN FREE STORAGE: Store in a dry place at room temperature. BEST BEFORE 27 JAN 2024 MR1 12:10

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.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • 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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • 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.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.
  • 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 23rd. 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 0029700921453, last edited 19 March 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.