MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta
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MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne is an instant pasta with a cheesy seasoning mix, sold as a quick snack. It scores EB3: nutrition is low because the pasta is a refined wheat base with no fibre declared, ingredients hold up fairly well apart from flavouring and a caramel colour, and risk is moderate on sodium. Fine now and then, ideally with added vegetables.
Ingredients, decoded
2 listed- Macaroni (Pasta): Semolina (Wheat) (100%)
- Masala Tastemaker
- Milk solids
- Refined wheat flour (Maida)
- Iodized salt
- Cheese (8.1%)
- Onion (6.9%)
- Sugar
- Starch
- Dehydrated Mushroom (3.5%)
- Palm oil
- Maltodextrin
- Nature identical flavouring substance
- Thickener (508)
- Black pepper powder
- Dehydrated spring onion (0.8%)
- Flavour enhancer (635)
- Yeast extract powder
- Colour (150d)
- Corn oil
1 teaspoon of sugar in every 100 g · 5.4 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 317 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9.6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 63.3 g |
| Total sugars | 5.4 g |
| Added sugars | 1.5 g |
| Total fat | 2.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.2 g |
| Trans fat | 0.01 g |
| Cholesterol | 3.3 mg |
| Sodium | 571.4 mg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta
A single-serve penne snack that leans on salt
MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne is a 68.5 g pack of instant pasta: penne made from 100% semolina, plus a Masala Tastemaker seasoning. The seasoning is built from milk solids, refined wheat flour, iodised salt, cheese (8.1%), onion (6.9%), sugar, starch and dehydrated mushroom (3.5%), with palm oil, maltodextrin, flavouring, a thickener, a flavour enhancer, a caramel colour and corn oil. It is bought as a five-minute snack cooked in an open pan.
One pack is one serve. It gives 217 kcal, about 6.6 g protein, 1.5 g saturated fat and 391 mg sodium. Per 100 g that is 317 kcal, 9.6 g protein, 2.2 g saturated fat and 571.4 mg sodium, with 1.5 g added sugar. No fibre, vitamins or minerals are declared.
The pack leads with suji and protein, and the pasta is indeed all semolina. The mushroom in the name is a small part of the seasoning, at 3.5%, and that costs a small label point. The seasoning also carries nature-identical flavouring, flavour enhancer 635 and caramel colour 150d. CleanPlate scores it EB3.
Why MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta scores EB3
Nutrition is an E: refined semolina, no fibre declared and little else to add. Ingredients are a B, held back by flavouring, caramel colour and a flavour enhancer. Risk is a 3, mostly from 571.4 mg sodium per 100 g.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 9.6 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 317 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why E
Protein is 9.6 g per 100 g, but it comes largely from refined wheat semolina, so it earns only limited credit. No fibre is declared, and no vitamins or minerals are listed to add to the grade.
In one 68.5 g pack that is about 6.6 g protein and 217 kcal.
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Good, few concerning additives
- Base
- Macaroni: Semolina
- Main fat
- Masala Tastemaker, Iodi...
- Sweeteners
- Masala Tastemaker...
- Additives
- 1
- Flagged
- Maida
02 Ingredient integrity: why B
The pasta is 100% semolina, and the seasoning leads with milk solids, refined wheat flour and salt, followed by cheese at 8.1% and onion at 6.9%. That is a short, recognisable list for an instant product.
Nature-identical flavouring, caramel colour 150d (sulphite ammonia caramel) and flavour enhancer 635 cost ingredient points. The thickener 508 (potassium chloride) costs none. The mushroom is named on the pack but is only 3.5% of the seasoning, which costs a small label point.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Moderate risk
- Added sugar
- 1.5 g
- Sodium
- 571.4 mg
- Saturated fat
- 2.2 g
- Trans fat
- 0.01 g
03 Load risk: why 3
Sodium is the main driver: 571.4 mg per 100 g, 391 mg in one pack. Saturated fat of 2.2 g per 100 g and energy of 317 kcal add smaller amounts.
Added sugar is 1.5 g per 100 g and trans fat is 0.01 g, so both play almost no part. The risk grade lands on a 3.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
Red flags
- −Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base
- −Red flag: Palm oil listed
- −Red flag: Contains Maltodextrin
- −Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)
Green flags
Nothing stands out in its favour.
Does MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta live up to its claims?
The 100% semolina and protein claims are true but framed, and the mushroom in the name is only 3.5% of the seasoning. Ready in five minutes holds.
- Product namePartly true
“Mushroom Penne”
Dehydrated mushroom is real but small, at 3.5% of the seasoning. The penne itself is semolina.
- On the packBe careful
“100% Suji/Rawa”
The pasta is 100% semolina, so this is true. The seasoning adds refined wheat flour, so the whole pack is not only suji.
- On the packBe careful
“Goodness of Protein”
The pack has 9.6 g protein per 100 g, about 6.6 g per serve, and says it meets 10% of the protein RDA. True, but the protein is from refined wheat and the nutrition grade is low.
- Retail listingHolds
“Ready in just 5 minutes”
The pack directions say to simmer for 5 minutes in an open pan.
What's in MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta?
Semolina penne with a milk, flour, salt and cheese seasoning. Watch the salt, the caramel colour 150d and the flavour enhancer 635.
The ingredient list, read for you
The pasta is semolina and nothing else. The seasoning is mostly milk solids, refined wheat flour and iodised salt, then cheese at 8.1%, onion at 6.9%, sugar and starch, with dehydrated mushroom at 3.5%. Palm oil, maltodextrin and corn oil add body, while flavouring, flavour enhancer 635 and yeast extract add savour. Caramel colour 150d darkens the sauce, and thickener 508 helps it cling.
Ingredients to watch
- SodiumConcern
571.4 mg per 100 g, 391 mg in one pack. It is the main driver of the risk grade.
- Caramel colour 150dConcern
A sulphite ammonia caramel that costs ingredient points. It only colours the sauce.
- Flavouring and flavour enhancer 635Worth watching
Nature-identical flavouring and flavour enhancer 635 each cost ingredient points.
- Mushroom at 3.5%Worth watching
Real, but a small share of the seasoning, and it costs a small label point.
- Added sugar and trans fatFine
1.5 g added sugar and 0.01 g trans fat per 100 g. Neither is a concern.
What it doesn’t have
- No fibre is declared on the panel.
- No vitamins or minerals are declared.
Who should eat MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta?
A few times a week at most for adults, and occasionally for children, since one pack has 391 mg sodium and a caramel colour.
- Most adultsA few times a week
One pack has 391 mg sodium, about a fifth of the day's limit.
- ChildrenOccasionally
Caramel colour 150d and 391 mg sodium in one small pack.
- Diabetes or prediabetesOccasionally
63.3 g carbohydrate per 100 g from refined semolina and flour, with no fibre declared.
- Active peopleOccasionally
About 6.6 g protein per pack is modest, and the sodium is high.
Recipes with MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta
Stir in fresh mushrooms, vegetables or an egg to add the fibre and protein the pack lacks, since the pack has only 3.5% mushroom.}
Mushroom penne with fresh mushrooms
Add sliced fresh mushrooms to the pan, so mushroom counts for more than the 3.5% in the seasoning.
Egg-topped penne
Top the cooked pasta with a boiled or fried egg to lift the 6.6 g protein in one pack.
Vegetable penne bowl
Simmer chopped capsicum, carrot or peas in the same water to add the fibre the panel does not declare.
MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta?
MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne is an instant pasta with a cheesy seasoning mix, sold as a quick snack. It scores EB3: nutrition is low because the pasta is a refined wheat base with no fibre declared, ingredients hold up fairly well apart from flavouring and a caramel colour, and risk is moderate on sodium. Fine now and then, ideally with added vegetables. Nutrition E, ingredients B, load risk 3; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta?
Per 100 g, MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta has 317 kcal, 9.6 g protein, 63.3 g carbohydrate, 2.8 g fat and 2.2 g saturated fat. One serve (1 pack, 68.5 g) has 217 kcal and 6.6 g protein.
What are the ingredients in MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta?
2 ingredients, in label order: Macaroni (Pasta): Semolina (Wheat) (100%), Masala Tastemaker (Milk solids, Refined wheat flour (Maida), Iodized salt, Cheese (8.1%), Onion (6.9%), Sugar, Starch, Dehydrated Mushroom (3.5%), Palm oil, Maltodextrin, Nature identical flavouring substance, Thickener (508), Black pepper powder, Dehydrated spring onion (0.8%), Flavour enhancer (635), Yeast extract powder, Colour (150d), Corn oil). Flagged: Maida (low concern).
Does MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta live up to its claims?
4 claims checked: 1 holds, 1 is partly true, 2 need care. "Mushroom Penne" is partly true: Dehydrated mushroom is real but small, at 3.5% of the seasoning. The penne itself is semolina. "100% Suji/Rawa" needs care: The pasta is 100% semolina, so this is true. The seasoning adds refined wheat flour, so the whole pack is not only suji.
Who should limit MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta?
Most adults: a few times a week. One pack has 391 mg sodium, about a fifth of the day's limit. Children: occasionally. Caramel colour 150d and 391 mg sodium in one small pack. Diabetes or prediabetes: occasionally. 63.3 g carbohydrate per 100 g from refined semolina and flour, with no fibre declared.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta have?
Per 100 g, MAGGI PAZZTA Mushroom Penne Instant Pasta has 1.5 g added sugar, 571 mg sodium (about 1.4 g salt) and 2.2 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 10 g added sugar, 600 mg sodium and 5 g saturated fat per 100 g. It is under all three lines.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 31 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | EB3 | v5.0 | First scored |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
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