Pasta sides cheesey bacon macaroni

by Knorr, Unilever

85
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Pasta sides cheesey bacon macaroni by Knorr, Unilever receives a safety score of 85/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient that have been flagged for potential safety concerns by regulatory or consumer advocacy databases. Product label data is sourced from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative database. See the full ingredient breakdown and safety assessment below.

Barcode
0041000082481
Nutri-Score
d
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
1/2 cup (60 g)

What the Data Says About

Pasta sides cheesey bacon macaroni by Knorr, Unilever carries a composite safety score of 85/100, which we classify as "Caution" on our four-tier shelf-label framework. The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Our scan identified 1 flagged ingredient in this product — components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, Pasta sides cheesey bacon macaroni is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone. The Nutri-Score grade of D reflects nutritional balance — calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium versus fiber, protein, and produce content — which again is a distinct dimension from additive safety and worth weighing alongside the scores above.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Pasta sides cheesey bacon macaroni
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 85/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score D OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Enriched Macaroni Product
2
Semolina And Durum Flour
3
Wheat
4
Niacin
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
5
Ferrous Sulfate
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
6
Iron
7
Thiamin Mononitrate
8
Vitamin B1
9
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
10
Vitamin B2
11
Folic Acid
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
Approved
12
Corn Starch
13
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
14
Cheddar Cheese
15
Pasteurized Milk
16
Cheese Cultures
17
Enzymes
18
Bacon
19
Cured With Water
20
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
21
Sodium Phosphate
22
Sodium Ascorbate
ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLOUR TREATING AGENT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
GRAS
23
Sodium Nitrite
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROPELLANT
Avoid Prior Sanctioned
24
Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor
25
Whey
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FORMULATION AID, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
26
Maltodextrin
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
27
Corn
28
Potato
29
Sodium Citrate
30
Butter
31
Cream
32
Torula yeast
Flavoring
Safe
33
Onion Powder
34
Natural Flavor
35
Milk
36
Yeast Extract
37
Annatto Extract And Turmeric
38
For Color
39
Disodium Guanylate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Approved
40
Disodium Inosinate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Approved
41
Onion Juice Concentrate

Full Ingredient List

Enriched macaroni product [semolina and durum flour (wheat), niacin, ferrous sulfate (iron), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), riboflavin (vitamin b2), folic acid], corn starch, salt, cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), bacon [(cured with water, salt, sugar, sodium phosphate, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite), hickory smoke flavor], whey, maltodextrin (corn, potato), sodium citrate, butter (cream, salt), torula yeast, onion powder, natural flavor (milk), yeast extract, annatto extract and turmeric (for color), disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, onion juice concentrate.

Categories

Plant-based foods and beverages Plant-based foods Cereals and potatoes Cereals and their products Meals Pasta dishes Pastas

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Related

Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial