Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Velveeta Shells and cheese gluten free ultra-processed?

12 oz Gluten-free pasta Sold in the United States

Pack of Velveeta Shells and cheese gluten free

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:

  • 23 ingredients
  • 8 additives
  • Nutri-Score E

Less processed gluten-free pasta

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

pasta (corn flour, brown rice flour), cheese sauce (water, cheddar cheese (milk, enzymes), canola oil, cheese culture, salt, maltodextrin, non-fat dry milk, whey, sodium phosphate, natural flavors, beta carotene, paprika extract, sodium alginate, mono- and DIGLYCERIDES, lactic acid, xanthan gum, sorbic acid)

Additives: E160a Carotene , E160ai Beta-carotene , E160c Paprika extract , E200 Sorbic acid , E270 Lactic acid , E401 Sodium alginate , E415 Xanthan gum , E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids

As written on the pack

GLUTEN FREE PASTA (CORN FLOUR, BROWN RICE FLOUR), CHEESE SAUCE (WATER, CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, ENZYMES], CANOLA OIL, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MALTODEXTRIN, NON-FAT DRY MILK, WHEY, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, COLOR ADDED [BETA CAROTENE, PAPRIKA EXTRACT], SODIUM ALGINATE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, LACTIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM, SORBIC ACID). 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.

  • E160a Carotene Carotenes are orange-yellow pigments, either synthesised or extracted from carrots, algae or palm oil.
  • E160c Paprika extract Paprika extract is a red-orange colour extracted from paprika peppers.
  • E401 Sodium alginate A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids are made from fats and glycerol.
  • 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.
  • Whey Whey is the liquid left over from cheese making, usually dried into a powder and used as a cheap source of milk solids, protein and lactose.
4 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.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.
  • 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 32 gluten-free pasta

From least to most processed, this one ranks 32nd. 59% of the gluten-free pasta 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 32 gluten-free pasta, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0021000083602, last edited 21 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of E (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.