3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean), plus modified starch, preservative, added sugar, natural flavor, added color and added acid.
Grade
DFull check
−57 points
Vegetarian-friendly. No animal-derived rennet, enzymes or meat/fish listed.
Ingredients, in label order
Explain every ingredient
- Pasteurized milk and cream — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- water — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- sugar — Watch. Added sugar.
- strawberries — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- cheese culture — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- salt — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- guar gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (guar). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- natural flavor — Watch. “Natural flavor”: an undisclosed flavoring blend.
- modified food starch — Red flag. Modified starch: a cheap thickener that replaces real cheese body.
- citric acid — Watch. Added acid, used for tang instead of longer culturing.
- xanthan gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (xanthan). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- fruit and vegetable juice (color) — Watch. Added color (from plant sources).
- carob bean gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (carob/locust bean). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- honey — Watch. Added sugar.
- natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor) — Red flag. Natamycin: an antifungal preservative. Labeled “natural,” but it's there to extend shelf life.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| 3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean) | −27 |
| Modified starch | −8 |
| Preservative | −9 |
| Added sugar | −5 |
| Natural flavor | −3 |
| Added color | −3 |
| Added acid | −2 |
| Score | 43 → D |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 8 oz | $1.99 | $0.25/oz |