Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original ultra-processed?

2.39 oz (68g) Pastas Sold in the United States and France

Pack of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original

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:

  • 40 ingredients
  • 4 additives
  • Nutri-Score D

Less processed pastas

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

enriched macaroni product (wheat flour, glycerol, monostearate, niacin, ferrous sulfate (iron), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin, folic acid), cheese sauce (whey, canola oil, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), whey protein, milk, milk protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, contains less than 2% of salt, lactic acid, sodium alginate, sorbic acid as a preservative, oleoresin paprika (color), enzymes, cheese culture, annatto (color), milkfat, natural flavor), modified food starch, maltodextrin, acetylated monoglycerides, salt, medium chain triglycerides

Additives: E160c Paprika extract , E270 Lactic acid , E401 Sodium alginate , E422 Glycerol

As written on the pack

enriched macaroni product (wheat flour, glycerol, monostearate, niacin, ferrous sulfate [iron], thiamin mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin b2], folic acid), cheese sauce (whey, canola oil, cheddar cheese, [milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], whey protein concentrate, milk, milk protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, contains less than 2% of salt, lactic acid, sodium alginate, sorbic acid as a preservative, oleoresin paprika [color], enzymes, cheese culture, annatto extract [color], milkfat, natural flavor), modified food starch, maltodextrin, acetylated monoglycerides, salt, medium chain triglycerides.

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.

  • 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.
  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • 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.
  • Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.

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.
  • Milk proteins Milk proteins are proteins separated from milk, such as caseinates and whey protein concentrates, added to adjust texture or raise protein content.
  • 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.
5 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.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Sauce A prepared sauce used as an ingredient.
  • Cheese Cheese is milk preserved with salt, cultures and rennet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 999 pastas

From least to most processed, this one ranks 928th. 51% of the pastas 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 999 pastas, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0021000023226, last edited 31 July 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 D (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.