Publix Deli Macaroni Salad — DUMP
Munch or Dump rates Publix Deli Macaroni Salad by Publix DUMP — score 17/90.
The cookout nostalgia is real, but the label isn't. Under the macaroni and celery sits a stack of refined soybean oil, sugar plus corn syrup, modified starches, hydrolyzed corn protein and four separate preservatives. It's an ultra-processed dressing built for shelf life and craving, not a fresh side.
Why this verdict
- Well over 18 sub-ingredients once the dressing, mayo, relish and seasoning are unpacked
- Four preservatives stacked: calcium disodium EDTA, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, plus polysorbate 80
- Two sweeteners layered together: sugar and corn syrup
- Hydrolyzed corn protein acts as a glutamate flavor enhancer
- Hyper-palatable base of refined soybean oil, sugar and enriched-starch macaroni
Ingredients (12)
- Cooked enriched macaroni (moderate) — Refined durum semolina pasta; fast starch with synthetic vitamins added back.
- Soybean Oil (moderate) — Second refined oil in the chicken component.
- Sugar (moderate) — Small added sweetener to balance acidity; minor at salsa portions.
- Corn Syrup (caution) — Second ingredient; a refined liquid sugar that binds the bar and drives the sugar total up.
- modified food starch (moderate) — Industrial thickener for the filling; NOVA 4 marker.
- calcium disodium edta (caution) — Chelating preservative used to keep the oil emulsion from going off.
- POLYSORBATE 80 (caution) — Synthetic emulsifier linked in research to gut-microbiome and intestinal-lining disruption at regular intake.
- sodium benzoate (moderate) — Preservative for shelf life.
- Potassium Sorbate (caution) — Fourth preservative, in the seasoning mix.
- HYDROLYZED CORN PROTEIN (caution) — Free-glutamate flavor enhancer for savory depth.
- Celery (safe) — Whole vegetable aromatic.
- carrots (safe) — Whole vegetable.