Food Quality Guideby KarbCoach

Food Quality Guide by KarbCoach

Great Value Premium Shells & Cheese Reduced Fat Pasta With A Creamy Cheese Sauce, Shells & Cheese: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-08-22 · Great Value

Quick answer

Mixed integrity

Great Value premium shells & cheese reduced fat pasta with a creamy cheese sauce, shells & cheese received a Food Integrity Score of 58 out of 100 (mixed integrity). This reflects highly processed and high additive load. This product has a mix of whole and refined ingredients with several additives. While the enriched pasta ingredients are standard, the cheese sauce includes processed and additive-heavy components like sodium phosphate, canola oil, and maltodextrin. Due to these factors, consider this as an occasional rather than a primary choice in your diet. Main considerations include processing, ingredient concern, and additive load. Simpler options: Choose simpler pasta for fewer additives; opt for homemade cheese sauces to avoid artificial ingredients.

Food Integrity Score 58/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Highly processed
  • High additive load
  • Transparency: Low

What to watch?

  • Processing
  • Ingredient concern
  • Additive load

Simpler options to consider

  • Choose simpler pasta for fewer additives
  • Opt for homemade cheese sauces to avoid artificial ingredients

You are viewing ingredients and processing. Switch to Longevity for nutrition and longer-term eating pattern fit.

Source data, GTIN, and Food Quality Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Great Value Premium Shells & Cheese Reduced Fat Pasta With A Creamy Cheese Sauce, Shells & Cheese
GTIN / UPC
00078742163505
Serving size
113 GRM (1/3 BOX (MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP PREPARED))
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Food Quality Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Premium Shells & Cheese Reduced Fat Pasta With A Creamy Cheese Sauce, Shells & Cheese

Great Value

Mixed integrity

Warning Signs

This product contains sodium phosphate and sodium alginate, which are notable additives.

Consider This

The presence of canola oil and maltodextrin suggests some industrial processing.

Good Substitutes

Swap for noodles with a simple cheese sauce, avoiding refined oils and extra additives.

Overall Assessment

Mixed integrity

This product has a mix of whole and refined ingredients with several additives. While the enriched pasta ingredients are standard, the cheese sauce includes processed and additive-heavy components like sodium phosphate, canola oil, and maltodextrin. Due to these factors, consider this as an occasional rather than a primary choice in your diet.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Processing
  • Ingredient concern
  • Additive load

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • CHEESE SAUCE (WATER, CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WHEY, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, MALTODEXTRIN, NON-FAT DRY MILK, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CANOLA OIL, WHOLE MILK POWDER, COLORS ADDED [PAPRIKA EXTRACT, BETA CAROTENE], SODIUM ALGINATE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, XANTHAN GUM, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], LACTIC ACID) — Contains sodium phosphate, processed additives.

Highest concern ingredients

  • CHEESE SAUCE (WATER, CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WHEY, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, MALTODEXTRIN, NON-FAT DRY MILK, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CANOLA OIL, WHOLE MILK POWDER, COLORS ADDED [PAPRIKA EXTRACT, BETA CAROTENE], SODIUM ALGINATE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, XANTHAN GUM, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], LACTIC ACID) (7/10) — Contains sodium phosphate and multiple processing additives.

Better choice tips

  • Choose simpler pasta for fewer additives.
  • Opt for homemade cheese sauces to avoid artificial ingredients.

Ingredients

Ingredient list

ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), CHEESE SAUCE (WATER, CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WHEY, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, MALTODEXTRIN, NON-FAT DRY MILK, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CANOLA OIL, WHOLE MILK POWDER, COLORS ADDED [PAPRIKA EXTRACT, BETA CAROTENE], SODIUM ALGINATE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, XANTHAN GUM, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], LACTIC ACID).

Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.

Highest-concern ingredients first. Expand an item for notes.

  1. CHEESE SAUCE (WATER, CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WHEY, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, MALTODEXTRIN, NON-FAT DRY MILK, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CANOLA OIL, WHOLE MILK POWDER, COLORS ADDED [PAPRIKA EXTRACT, BETA CAROTENE], SODIUM ALGINATE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, XANTHAN GUM, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], LACTIC ACID)Concern 7/10 — Higher concernProcessed cheese sauceWatchlist · Additive · Vague label term

    What this is

    Processed cheese sauce

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Includes multiple additives and processed components.

    Additional note

    Contains additives like sodium phosphate, xanthan gum.

    Family watchlist

    Contains sodium phosphate, processed additives.

  2. ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID)Concern 3/10 — Mild concernRefined flour

    What this is

    Refined flour

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Ingredient concern

    Why it matters

    Enriched flour is refined and fortified with vitamins.

    Additional note

    Enriched flour with added vitamins.

This analysis is informative only and not a medical safety evaluation. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

How this product may fit different goals

The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.

  • Low-Spike Stability

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Heart-Healthy Eating

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Heart-Healthy Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Added-sodium ingredients (Mentions "salt", "sodium phosphate". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • GLP-1 Eating Support

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "syrup", "maltodextrin", "corn syrup". See ingredients for details.)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Low Sugar Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Appetite & Portion Awareness

    Mixed

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the same nutrition and ingredient data show both supportive signals and tradeoffs.

    A tradeoff: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "syrup", "maltodextrin", "corn syrup". See ingredients for details.)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Workout Recovery

    Supportive

    Athletic Performance

    For someone prioritizing Workout Recovery, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Protein ingredients (Mentions "whey". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

See how this product fits your goals

Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.

Personalize this analysis

Understanding the Food Integrity analysis

What the Food Integrity analysis evaluates

The Food Integrity analysis focuses on how a packaged food is formulated and made. It examines processing level, ingredient quality, additives, oils, sweeteners, purity cues, and how clearly a label communicates what is in the product. The Food Integrity Score summarizes that formulation and transparency picture on a 0–100 scale. It is not a full nutrient report and it is not a personalized meal plan.

Why processing, ingredients, and transparency matter

Processing level and ingredient quality shape what you are actually eating beyond calories on the label. Additives, industrial oils, and intense sweeteners can change how clean or heavily engineered a product feels, even when the front of pack looks wholesome. Purity and transparency matter because incomplete or marketing-heavy labeling can hide tradeoffs that only show up when the full ingredient list is reviewed carefully.

Who may prioritize Food Integrity

Some people care mainly about Food Integrity because their dietary goals center on formulation rather than macros alone. Examples include checking vegetarian or vegan suitability, preferring simpler ingredient sources, avoiding certain additives or sweeteners, watching oil choices, or preferring less processed options. For those priorities, the Food Integrity Score can be the more practical first read.

How Food Integrity differs from Longevity

Food Integrity is the focused analysis of processing, ingredients, additives, purity, and transparency. Longevity is the broader analysis of nutritional composition, metabolic and dietary characteristics, processing, and ingredient quality together. Favorable nutrition values do not necessarily mean strong Food Integrity: a product can look balanced on macros yet still rely on heavy processing or additives that the Food Integrity analysis flags in more detail.

Why the two analyses overlap—and why to review Longevity too

The analyses overlap intentionally. Food Integrity–related characteristics contribute to Longevity, and Longevity still benefits from the same ingredient-quality lens. They are not competing verdicts; they answer different questions at different depths. Reviewing the Longevity analysis can add information about nutritional composition, metabolic characteristics, and dietary balance that Food Integrity alone does not emphasize. Looking at both usually gives the most complete understanding of tradeoffs.

Common questions about this product

Is Great Value Premium Shells & Cheese Reduced Fat Pasta With A Creamy Cheese Sauce, Shells & Cheese highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Highly processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.

Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?

Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.

How much fiber is in one serving?

Great Value Premium Shells & Cheese Reduced Fat Pasta With A Creamy Cheese Sauce, Shells & Cheese shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Great Value Premium Shells & Cheese Reduced Fat Pasta With A Creamy Cheese Sauce, Shells & Cheese: 6.99g total sugar per serving. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Moderate protein content; Low in saturated fat.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: High sodium content; Contains additives; Refined carbohydrates.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same pasta dinners differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.

Other published analyses in Pasta Dinners, selected from the same Food Quality Guide catalog.

Source data and Food Quality Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Food Quality Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
  3. How the Longevity Score is calculated
  4. How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
  5. Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
  6. Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
  7. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information

Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

Sources, citations & safety

See how this item lines up with your goals

Food Quality Guide covers this product in detail. In KarbCoach, your goals shape what matters most for your meals.

Set your goals in KarbCoach

Also available in the app

Download on the App StoreGet it onGoogle Play