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Panera Bread
Panera Bread

Panera bread mac & cheese

Panera bread mac & cheese nutrition label, ingredients and packaging
HIGH SCORE

Not Vegan

Contains 'milk'

Health ScoreExcellent
80/100
Calories
211
Sugar
4g
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Family & Pet Safety

🚫

Not Dog Safe 🐶❌

⚠️ SODIUM ION POISONING: Vomiting, seizures (in high doses).
Ref: Merck Vet
🤰

Pregnancy Safe? 🤰✅

Safe for consumption.

👶

Limit for Kids 👶⚠️

⚠️ GUT HEALTH: May cause inflammation. (Cornucopia Institute)

Ingredient Decoder

Moderate Caution

Carrageenan

A thickening agent derived from red seaweed. While natural, it has been linked to gastrointestinal inflammation, bloating, and may worsen symptoms of IBS.

Sodium Phosphate

Used in processed meats and cheese to maintain moisture. High intake is dangerous for people with kidney issues and can weaken bones by leaching calcium.

Maltodextrin

A highly processed white powder from corn or wheat. It has a higher Glycemic Index than table sugar (spiking insulin rapidly) and can suppress good gut bacteria.

Full Ingredients List:

Cooked enriched rigate pasta (water, semolina, egg whites, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), american cheese spread (cheddar and colby cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], water, whey, sodium phosphate, whey protein concentrate, skim milk, milkfat, salt, carrageenan, cellulose gum), light cream, cheese sauce (cheddar cheese [pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes], water, milkfat, whey, enzyme modified cheese [pasteurized milk, water, sodium phosphate, milkfat, salt, cheese culture, enzymes], sodium phosphate, modified food starch, salt, lactic acid, sodium alginate, sorbic acid [preservative]), white cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), contains 2% or less of: butter (cream, salt), water, modified food starch, wheat flour, salt, seasoning (yeast extract, maltodextrin, salt) and nisin preparation.

Diet Compatibility

🌱

Vegan

Avoid

🌾

Gluten-Free

Avoid

🥩

Keto

Avoid

What you need to know

Fat in moderate quantity (12.676056338028g)

Contains a moderate amount of fat. Consume as part of a balanced diet.

Source: National Health Service UK (NHS) - Fat: the facts

Saturated Fat in high quantity (7.0422535211268g)

High consumption of saturated fats increases the risk of heart diseases. Choose products with lower content.

Source: National Health Service UK (NHS)

Sugars in low quantity (3.5211267605634g)

Low sugar content. Good for weight control and dental health.

Source: National Health Service UK (NHS) - Sugar: the facts

Salt in moderate quantity (1.2235915492958g)

Salt in moderate quantity.

Source: WHO - Fact sheet - Salt reduction

Health Benefits

  • Excellent Health Score
  • Low Sugar

Cons & Warnings

  • Ultra Processed

Processing Level

Based on ingredient analysis (NOVA System)

NOVA 4: Ultra Processed

Analysis Report

Dr. Mark Chen, PhD

Dr. Mark Chen, PhD

Food Scientist

"Mark analyzes food processing levels and additive safety."

Health Integrity Analysis

Is Panera bread mac & cheese truly good for you, or is it just clever marketing? We analyzed the nutritional density, ingredient safety, and processing levels using the CakeID Algorithm. With a calculated health score of 80/100, here is the deep dive into what you are actually eating.

⚠️ Moderate Caution

While free from the most dangerous additives, we detected Carrageenan. A thickening agent derived from red seaweed. While natural, it has been linked to gastrointestinal inflammation, bloating, and may worsen symptoms of IBS. It is generally safe in small amounts but worth noting for sensitive diets.

Nutritional Balance

With only 4g of sugar, this product maintains a balanced profile. It avoids the excessive sweetness of typical processed foods while providing 8g of protein.

Final Verdict

Taking into account the macro-nutrient balance, additive risks, and caloric density, Panera bread mac & cheese achieves a CakeID Score of 80/100.

Highly Recommended: This is a top-tier choice that balances convenience with excellent nutritional value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panera bread mac & cheese healthy?
Yes. With a score of 80/100, Panera bread mac & cheese is considered a healthy option with a clean ingredient profile.
Is Panera bread mac & cheese Vegan?
No. Contains 'milk'.
Are there artificial additives?
No high-risk artificial additives were detected in this product.
Disclaimer: The information provided by CakeID is for educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary concerns.

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Official GTIN Code

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 package

Amount per serving
Calories
211
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g17%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 0mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 8g
Vitamin D 0mcg0%
Calcium 0mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 0mg0%

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Burn It Off

To burn off the 211 kcal in 100g, you'd need to:

21
Run
26
Cycle
53
Walk

Sugar Visualization

1 cube ≈ 4g sugar (Contains ~1 cubes)

Macros

FDA Check

Passed. No active recalls.