3 gum types (carob/locust bean, guar, xanthan), plus modified starch, preservative, carrageenan, phosphate, corn syrup solids, added sugar, added color and vitamin a palmitate.
Grade
FFull check
−92 points
Check before buying. Lists “enzymes” without saying they're microbial. Could be animal-derived.
Easier to buy
Ingredients, in label order
Explain every ingredient
- Skim milk — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- cheese culture — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- calcium propionate and potassium sorbate (preservatives) — Red flag. Synthetic preservative.
- 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.
- carrageenan — Red flag. Carrageenan: a seaweed thickener some studies link to gut irritation.
- color added — Watch. Added color (from plant sources).
- corn syrup solids — Red flag. Corn syrup solids: sweetener and filler.
- cream — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- enzymes — Watch. Enzymes with no source given. Could be animal-derived. Check with the maker if you're strict.
- guar gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (guar). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- milk — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- modified food starch — Red flag. Modified starch: a cheap thickener that replaces real cheese body.
- salt — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- sodium tripolyphosphate — Red flag. Phosphate: a processing salt used as an emulsifier.
- sugar — Watch. Added sugar.
- vitamin A palmitate — Watch. Vitamin A palmitate: added back after fat is reduced.
- xanthan gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (xanthan). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| 3 gum types (carob/locust bean, guar, xanthan) | −27 |
| Modified starch | −8 |
| Preservative | −9 |
| Carrageenan | −20 |
| Phosphate | −12 |
| Corn syrup solids | −6 |
| Added sugar | −5 |
| Added color | −3 |
| Vitamin A palmitate | −2 |
| Score | 8 → F |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | 8 oz | $1.56 | $0.20/oz |
Shopper notes
- The worst label in this set: carrageenan, a phosphate and two synthetic preservatives.
- Also lists “enzymes” with no source.