Higher-scoring pick on this shelf: Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Mac & Cheese (100/100)
The recorded US ingredient statement lists carrageenan (1 of the 9 additive groups we check). Confirm the exact formula on your package.
Label checked 2026-10-16. 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: 8 of 9 groups not on the label. No confirmed organic claim.
It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
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Your ingredient check
0 of your 4 avoided groups are listed on this label. The clean score counts all 9 groups we check; this label lists 1.
Additive Check Details
This checks your selected additives in the available ingredient text. It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
Ingredients
Lean Cuisine Creamy Mac and Cheese Cauli' Bowls
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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 2594422, data date 2023-07-13, release 2026-04-30). These are brand-submitted label records in the public domain (CC0); retrieved 2026-10-16. Check the package for the current label.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per serving (283 g, 1 Package (283g)) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 99 kcal | 280 kcal |
| Total fat | 2.8 g | 8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.6 g | 4.5 g |
| Sodium | 283 mg | 801 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 13.4 g | 38 g |
| Dietary fiber | 3.2 g | 9.1 g |
| Total sugars | 2.5 g | 7 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sugar alcohols | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protein | 4.6 g | 13 g |
| Net carbs (carbs − fiber) | 10.2 g | 28.9 g |
Our research notes
What to know before you choose this mac & cheese
The recorded ingredient label lists 11 ingredients, led by cauliflower pasta, skim milk and water. Worth noting: it lists carrageenan. 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.
- Worth checkingLists carrageenan (carrageenan).
- Good to knowContains thickeners or stabilizers: konjac and xanthan.
- Good to knowIngredient and allergen statements mention milk and egg. Always confirm the full allergen statement on the package.
You may prefer another option if…
- You avoid carrageenan: the recorded label lists carrageenan.
- You prefer to avoid thickeners and gums: it lists konjac and xanthan.
- You avoid milk and egg: 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
- Carrageenan on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Compare every label we have recorded on the mac & cheese shelf
- Browse the mac & cheese shelf
References
- Lean Cuisine Creamy Mac and Cheese Cauli' Bowls: brand-submitted label record (FDC ID 2594422) 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 Lean Cuisine Creamy Mac and Cheese Cauli' Bowls 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 Lean Cuisine Creamy Mac and Cheese Cauli' Bowls 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 2026-10-16. Evidence expires after 90 days and requires a new source review; viewing this page does not renew it.
What are the ingredients in Lean Cuisine Creamy Mac and Cheese Cauli' Bowls?
The recorded ingredient statement reads: CAULIFLOWER PASTA (WATER, TAPIOCA STARCH, CAULIFLOWER, KONJAC FLOUR, ARROWROOT STARCH, EGGS, XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN), SKIM MILK, WATER, CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES, ANNATTO COLOR), REDUCED FAT VERMONT CHEDDAR CHEESE (CULTURED LOW FAT MILK, SALT, ENZYMES, VITAMIN A PALMITATE), 2% OR LESS OF MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CHEDDAR CLUB CHEESE (CHEDDAR CHEESE [CULTURED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SALT, ANNATTO COLOR), SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, ONION POWDER, SPICE
Is Lean Cuisine Creamy Mac and Cheese Cauli' Bowls healthy?
Its recorded label lists carrageenan (1 of the 9 additive groups we check). Its clean score is 63 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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