Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

Name: Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese
Brand: Annie's

0Avoid

Breakdown

Ultra-processed · 6 contaminants flagged · 1 ingredient to avoid

Includes lab results from its product family: Annie's Classic Cheddar box (cream and butter)

100

Lab-measured contaminants

Measured against published safety limits

−80

cadmium−42

bisphenol a (bpa)−21

di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dehp)−16

dibutyl phthalate−1

Ingredients

−23

sodium phosphate−12

non-animal enzymes−4

citric acid−4

silicon dioxide−3

Processing

−10

NOVA 4: ultra-processed−10

Credits

Certified organic+5

Adjustments

What it takes to land on the final number

Minimum score+8

Final score0

Contaminants · 18

2 at/over limit

Measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Bisphenol a (BPA)5 ppbof 1 ppb

Over the limit — 5×EU Reg. (EU) 2024/3190 — BPA banned in food-contact materials from 20 Jan 2025 (old 0.05 mg/kg SML repealed); the residual exemptions require NO detectable migration at a 1 ug/kg detection limit. 1 ppb is therefore the tightest published number.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)16 ppbof 6 ppb

Over the limit — 2.7×US EPA drinking-water MCL, 40 CFR 141.61(c) — 0.006 mg/L. Applied to all foods as the TIGHTEST published DEHP number; the EU food-contact limit is looser (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442: SML 0.6 mg/kg, plus the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit with DBP/BBP/DIBP).

Dibutyl Phthalate7 ppbof 120 ppb

6% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — DBP SML 0.12 mg/kg (cut from 0.3). Also inside the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit (DBP x5).

Di (2-ethylhexyl) Terephthalate0.0303 ppmof 60 ppm

<1% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — DEHT (FCM 798) SML 60 mg/kg, group restriction with DINCH. No tighter published limit exists (EFSA TDI 1 mg/kg bw/day).

Diethylhexyl Adipate0.009 ppmof 18 ppm

<1% of the limitEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — DEHA (FCM 207) SML 18 mg/kg.

Benzylbutyl PhthalateNDof 6 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — BBP SML 6 mg/kg (cut from 30). Also inside the 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalent group limit (BBP x0.1 = 6 mg/kg alone).

BpfNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedNot on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), and Reg. 2024/3190 restricts hazardous bisphenols; no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

BPS (Bisphenol s)NDof 50 ppb

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — BPS (4,4'-sulphonyldiphenol) SML 0.05 mg/kg; BfR applies the same 0.05 mg/kg.

Di-n-octyl PhthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDNOP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Dicyclohexyl PhthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDCHP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

DiethylphthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDEP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Dihexyl PhthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDNHP (di-n-hexyl phthalate, EU Repr. 1B) is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Diisobutyl PhthalateNDof 150 ppb

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 2023/1442 group restriction — DBP x5 + DIBP x4 + BBP x0.1 + DEHP <= 0.6 mg/kg DEHP-equivalents, so DIBP alone may not exceed 0.15 mg/kg. DIBP is not itself an authorised substance.

Diisodecyl AdipateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDIDA (diisodecyl adipate) is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Diisodecyl PhthalateNDof 1.8 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — DINP+DIDP group SML 1.8 mg/kg (sum). Applied to each alone.

Diisononyl 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic AcidNDof 60 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 — DINCH (FCM 775) group restriction with DEHT, 60 mg/kg. No tighter published limit exists (EFSA TDI 1 mg/kg bw/day).

Diisononyl ortho PhthalateNDof 1.8 ppm

Not detectedEU food-contact plastics, Reg. (EU) 10/2011 as amended by 2023/1442 — DINP+DIDP group SML 1.8 mg/kg (sum). Applied to each alone.

DimethylphthalateNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedDMP is not on the EU Union list of substances authorised in food-contact plastics (Reg. (EU) 10/2011 Annex I), so no migration is permitted. Set at 0.01 mg/kg, the detection limit 10/2011 uses for not-detectable (ND) restrictions.

Contaminants · 4

1 at/over limit

Includes lab tests of other products in its family

Annie's Classic Cheddar box (cream and butter)

Worst result per contaminant across the family

In the family’s tests: measured by an independent lab and compared against published safety limits.

Cadmium28 ppbof 5 ppb

Over the limit — 5.6×FDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Macaroni & Cheese Classic Cheddar, 170 g

ArsenicNDof 10 ppb

Not detectedFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.010 mg/L (= EPA MCL)

Measured in: Macaroni & Cheese Classic Cheddar, 170 g

LeadNDof 5 ppb

Not detectedFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.005 mg/L

Measured in: Macaroni & Cheese Classic Cheddar, 170 g

MercuryNDof 2 ppb

Not detectedFDA bottled-water Standard of Quality, 21 CFR 165.110(b) — 0.002 mg/L

Measured in: Macaroni & Cheese Classic Cheddar, 170 g

Ingredients · 17

GoodCautionAvoid

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Healthier swaps

Same shelf, cleaner ingredients

Nutrition facts

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Calories	366.2 kcal	7.32 kcal
Fat	4.23 g	0.08 g
Saturated fat	2.11 g	0.04 g
Carbohydrates	70.42 g	1.41 g
Sugars	8.45 g	0.17 g
Fiber	4.23 g	0.08 g
Protein	12.68 g	0.25 g
Sodium	0.65 g	0.01 g

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Common questions

Is Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese healthy?

Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese scores 0/100 on Tallow — our avoid band. That number comes from what is on the label: the ingredients, how processed it is, and what it is packaged in, plus lab results from its product family, Annie's Classic Cheddar box (cream and butter). Per serving it carries 0g fiber, 0g protein and 0g sugar. It is not a verdict on your diet — Tallow does not weigh calories, portion size or how often you eat it, so a high score means the ingredients are clean, not that the food is unlimited.

What is in Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese?

Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese lists 17 ingredients, starting with Organic Pasta, Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Whey, Organic Cultured Cream and Organic Nonfat Milk. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first few make up most of what you are eating.

How many calories are in Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese?

7 kcal per serving, or 366 kcal per 100g. Calories are only part of the picture — Tallow scores Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese on what the ingredients are, not how many calories they carry.

Does Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese contain seed oils?

No. Nothing in Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese’s ingredient list matches a seed oil — canola, soybean, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, rice bran or peanut oil, or an unspecified "vegetable oil".

How processed is Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese?

Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese is NOVA group 4: ultra-processed. That is the top of the scale and the classification the score penalises most heavily.

How does Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese compare to other pasta & noodles?

At 0/100 Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese scores worse than most pasta & noodles we have scored. A higher-scoring option in pasta & noodles is Rao's Homemade Spaghetti at 100/100.

Is Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese organic?

Yes. Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese carries USDA Organic certification, which is worth +5 points in the score above.

Has Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese been lab tested?

Yes. 18 substances in Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese have a laboratory result on file — see the Contaminants section above for each reading and the limit it was measured against. Other products in its family (Annie's Classic Cheddar box (cream and butter)), which share its base recipe, were lab tested too. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Their results are in the family's Contaminants section above.

Does Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese contain heavy metals?

Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese itself has not been tested for heavy metals, but other products in its family, which share its base recipe, have: a lab detected cadmium at 28 ppb against a 5 ppb limit in Macaroni & Cheese Classic Cheddar, 170 g. This product is scored with the worst result for each contaminant across those tests. Its own results may differ.

Does Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese contain phthalates?

Yes. A lab detected DEHP at 16 ppb against a 6 ppb limit and dibutyl phthalate at 7 ppb against a 120 ppb limit in Annie's Organic Classic Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese. It tested for 9 other phthalates and found none above its detection limit. Each reading is in the Contaminants section above.

Full methodology: how we score products.