Higher-scoring pick on this shelf: Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Mac & Cheese (100/100)

The recorded US ingredient statement lists seed oils (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.
Label on your package different? Tell us.
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.
Start with what matters to you
What do you want to avoid?
Choose additive groups to check. Your choices are saved on this browser and update your ingredient results.
Your ingredient check
1 of your 4 avoided groups is listed on this label. The clean score counts all 9 groups we check; this label lists 1.
Additive Check Details
canola oilThis checks your selected additives in the available ingredient text. It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
Ingredients
Kraft Deluxe Original Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Sauce
Label checked2026-10-16 · US
- (, [, , , ], , , , , , , , , , , , , , )
- ,
- (, , , , , )
Tap an ingredient to see why it is flagged and where it sits on the label.
Copied word for word from the labelUSDA FoodData Central
Label data source
Ingredients and nutrition come from USDA FoodData Central, Branded Foods (FDC ID 2594756, 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 (99 g, 3.5 oz (99g) (makes about 1 cup)) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 323 kcal | 320 kcal |
| Total fat | 11.1 g | 11 g |
| Saturated fat | 3 g | 3 g |
| Sodium | 909 mg | 900 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 41.4 g | 41 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1 g | 1 g |
| Total sugars | 4 g | 4 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sugar alcohols | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protein | 12.1 g | 12 g |
| Net carbs (carbs − fiber) | 40.4 g | 40 g |
Our research notes
What to know before you choose this mac & cheese
The recorded ingredient label lists 2 ingredients, led by cheese sauce and enriched macaroni product. Worth noting: it lists seed oils. 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 signShort ingredient list: 2 ingredients.
- Worth checkingLists seed oils (canola oil).
- Good to knowOils named on the label: canola oil.
- Good to knowIngredient and allergen statements mention milk and wheat. Always confirm the full allergen statement on the package.
You may prefer another option if…
- You avoid seed oils: the recorded label lists canola oil.
- 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
- Seed Oils 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
- Kraft Deluxe Original Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Sauce: brand-submitted label record (FDC ID 2594756) 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 Kraft Deluxe Original Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Sauce contain seed oils?
The recorded ingredient statement lists seed oils. Review the full statement for the exact ingredients.
Does Kraft Deluxe Original Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Sauce 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 Kraft Deluxe Original Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Sauce?
The recorded ingredient statement reads: CHEESE SAUCE (WHEY, CHEDDAR CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], CANOLA OIL, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, MILK, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM ALGINATE, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, MILKFAT, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA [COLOR], CHEESE CULTURE, ANNATTO [COLOR], ENZYMES), ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE [IRON], THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID)
Is Kraft Deluxe Original Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Sauce healthy?
Its recorded label lists seed oils (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.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. “Buy on Amazon” appears only for an exact Amazon listing matched to the product by brand and name; otherwise “Find where to buy” opens the maker’s or seller’s page. Confirm the package, seller, availability, and current price before checkout, including size, flavor, and multipack count. Buying links do not influence ingredient results.





















