Elbows & Cheese
by H E Butt Grocery
An organic frozen mac and cheese that's cleaner than conventional versions but still contains processed cheese sauce, soybean oil, and various additives. The organic certification helps reduce pesticide exposure, but the sodium phosphate and industrial processing keep this in moderately processed territory.
- Organic Durum Wheat Semolina – safe · High-quality organic wheat pasta base with good protein content and lower glycemic impact than regular wheat.
- Organic Cheddar Cheese – beneficial · Real organic cheese provides protein, calcium, and beneficial fats without synthetic hormones or antibiotics.
- Pasteurized Organic Milk – safe · Organic milk from cows not treated with synthetic hormones or routine antibiotics.
- Cheese Culture – beneficial · Beneficial bacteria used in cheese-making that may support gut health.
- Salt – safe · Standard food-grade salt for flavor enhancement and preservation.
- Enzymes – safe · Natural enzymes used in cheese production to aid coagulation and texture.
- Water – safe · Standard food ingredient for consistency and texture.
- Organic Butter – beneficial · Organic butter provides natural dairy fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
- Pasteurized Organic Sweet Cream – safe · Organic cream component for richness and texture without synthetic additives.
- Organic Soybean Oil – controversial · High omega-6 seed oil that may promote inflammation despite being organic.
- Sodium Phosphate – controversial · Emulsifier linked to cardiovascular issues and kidney stress in high amounts.
- Organic Non-fat Dry Milk – safe · Concentrated milk proteins for texture and nutritional value.
- Organic Maltodextrin – controversial · Highly processed starch that can spike blood sugar despite organic status.
- Natural Flavors – safe · Unspecified natural flavor compounds, generally recognized as safe but lack transparency.
- Organic Pumpkin – beneficial · Natural orange coloring from organic pumpkin, providing beta-carotene.
- Organic Apple – beneficial · Natural coloring agent from organic apples, contains beneficial phytonutrients.
- Organic Annatto Extract – safe · Natural orange coloring from annatto seeds, generally well-tolerated.
- Lactic Acid – safe · Natural acid that enhances flavor and acts as a mild preservative.
- Xanthan Gum – safe · Bacterial-derived thickener that may cause digestive upset in sensitive individuals.
- Organic Guar Gum – safe · Fiber-rich natural thickener that may provide prebiotic benefits.
- Silicon Dioxide – safe · Anti-caking agent derived from silica, generally recognized as safe in food amounts.
- Sunflower Lecithin – beneficial · Natural emulsifier from sunflowers that supports brain health and is soy-free.
- Carnauba Wax – safe · Natural plant-based wax used as a coating agent, passes through digestive system.
- Mixed Tocopherols – beneficial · Natural vitamin E compounds that act as antioxidants and protect fats from rancidity.
USDA Organic certification
Real organic cheddar cheese
Natural coloring from vegetables
No artificial preservatives
Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) for antioxidant protection
Contains inflammatory soybean oil
Sodium phosphate emulsifier
Highly processed cheese sauce
Multiple thickening agents
Maltodextrin can spike blood sugar
About This Analysis
This ingredient analysis for Elbows & Cheese was performed by Truelabel, an AI-powered food scanner that grades products from A (excellent) to F (failing) based on ingredient quality. The analysis covers seed oil content, ultra-processed ingredients, preservatives, artificial colors, allergens, and potential health risks including cancer risk, hormonal disruption, and gut irritation scores.
Category: Frozen