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BROCCOLI RICE & CHEESE CASSEROLE, BROCCOLI RICE & CHEESE

RON'S · 0/100 · Not approved

4 not-approved ingredients detected

What we flagged

IngredientVerdictWhy
Sodium Phosphate Caution Common additive in processed meats and cheeses; high intake linked to kidney stress.
Sunflower Oil Not approved Refined seed oil; high-oleic variants slightly more stable but still industrially processed.
Artificial Flavor Not approved Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds; no transparency about composition.
Soybean Oil Not approved Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Soy Lecithin Caution Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
Sugar (Refined) Caution Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.
Milk Powder Caution Dehydrated milk; spray-drying can oxidize cholesterol.
Modified Food Starch Not approved Industrially modified starch (chemical, enzymatic, or physical processing — label rarely specifies which). Common GMO source (corn/wheat/tapioca), and several modification agents (propylene oxide, sodium hydroxide) are flagged in EU regulatory reviews. Editorial position: not what we'd stock.
Maltodextrin Caution Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
Xanthan Gum Caution Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Natural Flavor Caution Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
Polysorbate 80 Caution Synthetic surfactant; animal studies show gut microbiome disruption.

How the score was reached

100 − 50×4 − 10×8 − 5×0 = 0

ReasonPointsDetail
Sunflower Oil -50 Refined seed oil; high-oleic variants slightly more stable but still industrially processed.
Artificial Flavor -50 Undisclosed synthetic flavoring compounds; no transparency about composition.
Soybean Oil -50 Industrial seed oil, high in oxidation-prone linoleic acid; typically hexane-extracted.
Modified Food Starch -50 Industrially modified starch (chemical, enzymatic, or physical processing — label rarely specifies which). Common GMO source (corn/wheat/tapioca), and several modification agents (propylene oxide, sodium hydroxide) are flagged in EU regulatory reviews. Editorial position: not what we'd stock.
Sodium Phosphate -10 Common additive in processed meats and cheeses; high intake linked to kidney stress.
Soy Lecithin -10 Hexane-extracted from soybeans unless labeled non-GMO/organic.
Sugar (Refined) -10 Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.
Milk Powder -10 Dehydrated milk; spray-drying can oxidize cholesterol.
Maltodextrin -10 Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
Xanthan Gum -10 Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Natural Flavor -10 Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
Polysorbate 80 -10 Synthetic surfactant; animal studies show gut microbiome disruption.

Ingredients

Waterbroccolipasteurized process american cheesecultured milkCreamSaltSodium Phosphatesodium citrateLactic Acidsorbic acidpreservativeapo-carotenalcolorenzymesenriched long grain white ricelong grain parboiled riceiron phosphateniacinthiamine mononitrateand folic acidn-dairy creamercorn syrup solidsSunflower Oilsodium caseinate [a milk derivative]dipotassium phosphatelecithinsodium silico aluminatetocopherols [added to protect flavor]Artificial Flavormargarinepalm oilSoybean Oilcontains less than of natural flavor [includes milk]Soy Lecithinbela carotene [color]vitamin a palmitate [added]Onionchicken baseChickenSugar (Refined)hydrolyzed wheat glutenrendered chicken fatOnion Powderdisodium inosinate & disodium guanylateextract of turmericspice extractivesMilk Powderskim milk solidsWheat Flouriron [reduced]riboflavinfolic acidModified Food StarchgelatinMaltodextrinyeast extractGarlic PowderXanthan Gumhydrolyzed vegetable proteinhydrolyzed corn proteinwith palmsunflower oil addedPepperNatural Flavorwhey solidsannatto turmeric blendsilicon dioxidePolysorbate 80propylene glycolturmeric oleoresin and annatto extractfor color

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Educational information, not medical or dietary advice. Scores reflect what the label states, checked against our published rules. Labels change — always read the product’s own packaging.