Higher-scoring pick on this shelf: Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Mac & Cheese (100/100)
None of the 9 additive groups we check is directly listed in the recorded ingredient statement. Confirm the exact formula on your package.
Label checked 2026-10-18. USDA FoodData Central · How we verify labels and scores
Label review by CleanFoodScore Research Team.
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How scoring works
The clean score reads only the ingredient label. Up to 60 points come from the 9 additive groups we check: each group not on the label earns its share, and a group named only in a "may contain" note earns half. Up to 25 points come from an organic claim we have confirmed. Points that do not apply to this kind of food are left out and the rest is scaled to 100.
This product: 9 of 9 groups not on the label. No confirmed organic claim.
It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
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0 of your 4 avoided groups are listed on this label. The clean score counts all 9 groups we check; this label lists 0.
Additive Check Details
This checks your selected additives in the available ingredient text. It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
Ingredients
Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese
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Higher-scoring picks on this shelf
Annie'sOrganic Classic Cheddar Mac & Cheese
Annie'sOrganic Grass-Fed Classic Cheddar Mac & CheeseLabel data source
Ingredients and nutrition come from USDA FoodData Central, Branded Foods (FDC ID 2431033, data date 2022-12-22, release 2026-04-30). These are brand-submitted label records in the public domain (CC0); retrieved 2026-10-18. Check the package for the current label.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per serving (58 g, 1 PACKAGE) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 379 kcal | 220 kcal |
| Total fat | 5.2 g | 3 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.5 g | 2 g |
| Sodium | 810 mg | 470 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 69 g | 40 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.7 g | 1 g |
| Total sugars | 10.3 g | 6 g |
| Added sugars | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sugar alcohols | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protein | 12.1 g | 7 g |
| Net carbs (carbs − fiber) | 67.3 g | 39 g |
Our research notes
What to know before you choose this mac & cheese
The recorded ingredient label lists 9 ingredients, led by enriched macaroni product, cheese sauce and maltodextrin. Worth noting: it lists added sweeteners (cheese sauce and maltodextrin) and natural flavors. None of the other additive groups we check appear. For this mac & cheese, the comparison that matters most is meal format: compare boxed mixes, ready-made trays or dairy-free versions within the style you will prepare.
- Good signNone of the nine additive groups we check (seed oils, artificial dyes, MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, banned-abroad additives) appear on the recorded label.
- Worth checkingLists added sweeteners: cheese sauce and maltodextrin (first appears at position 2 of 9).
- Worth checkingLists natural flavors; the specific flavoring ingredients are not disclosed.
- Good to knowContains thickeners or stabilizers: guar.
- Good to knowIngredient and allergen statements mention milk and wheat. Always confirm the full allergen statement on the package.
May suit you if…
- You avoid all nine groups we check, from seed oils to banned-abroad additives: none appear on the recorded label.
You may prefer another option if…
- You are limiting added sugars: it lists cheese sauce and maltodextrin.
- You want every flavoring ingredient disclosed: natural flavors are not itemized.
- You prefer to avoid thickeners and gums: it lists guar.
- You avoid milk and wheat: the label mentions them.
Compare this against other mac & cheese
- Meal format. Compare boxed mixes, ready-made trays or dairy-free versions within the style you will prepare.
- As-prepared nutrition. Include the milk, butter or other ingredients you add at home.
- Portions per package. Check how much the box makes and how much you plan to eat.
Keep reading
References
- Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese: brand-submitted label record (FDC ID 2431033) USDA FoodData Central
- Color additives: questions and answers for consumers U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Food dyes Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Sodium in your diet U.S. Food and Drug Administration
These notes summarize the linked ingredient record and public references. Records may come from manufacturer pages or USDA FoodData Central brand-submitted labels. They are not medical advice or a nutrition, allergy or safety rating, and the maker’s claims are not independently verified here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese contain seed oils?
No listed matches for seed oils were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
Does Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese contain artificial dyes or MSG?
No listed matches for artificial dyes or MSG were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
What is the verification standard for this product?
The complete ingredient statement was recorded from the linked product-specific source on 2026-10-18. Evidence expires after 90 days and requires a new source review; viewing this page does not renew it.
What are the ingredients in Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese?
The recorded ingredient statement reads: ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON [FERROUS SULFATE], THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE), CHEESE SAUCE (WHEY, MALTODEXTRIN, SEMISOFT CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], NONFAT MILK, SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: NATURAL FLAVOR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, ADDED COLOR [BEET JUICE, ANNATTO EXTRACT, BETA CAROTENE, TURMERIC OLEORESIN], CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, GUAR GUM), MALTODEXTRIN, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SALT, PROPYLENE GLYCOL ESTERS OF FATTY ACIDS, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, MONOGLYCERIDES.
Is Kroger Original Macaroni and Cheese healthy?
Its recorded label lists none of the 9 additive groups we track, including seed oils, artificial dyes and MSG. Its clean score is 71 out of 100. That is a label check, not a nutrition rating: sugar, sodium, calories and portion size are separate questions.
Same shelf. Different labels.
What else could go in your basket?
See the full table: Mac & cheese ranked by clean scoreMac & cheese options · US labels. Sorted by clean score, the same label-based score as the shelf ranking table; each card names the additive groups its label lists out of the 9 we check. Neither is a nutrition or quality rating. Different formats and flavors can have different recipes.
Showing 24 of 58 alternatives
Prices are dated observations for the stated package, exclude tax and shipping, and expire after 30 days. Ingredient evidence expires after 90 days. Unknown evidence is never ranked as fewer matches.
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