3 gum types (carob/locust bean, guar, xanthan), plus modified starch, preservative, added sugar, whey protein concentrate, natural flavor and vitamin a palmitate.
Grade
DFull check
−59 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.
- sugar — Watch. Added sugar.
- pineapple — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- whey protein concentrate — Watch. Whey protein concentrate: added milk protein that firms the texture. Not in traditional cream cheese.
- water — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- pineapple juice concentrate — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- salt — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- modified food starch — Red flag. Modified starch: a cheap thickener that replaces real cheese body.
- 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.
- guar gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (guar). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- xanthan gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (xanthan). 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.
- natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor) — Red flag. Natamycin: an antifungal preservative. Labeled “natural,” but it's there to extend shelf life.
- vitamin A palmitate — Watch. Vitamin A palmitate: added back after fat is reduced.
- cheese culture — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| 3 gum types (carob/locust bean, guar, xanthan) | −27 |
| Modified starch | −8 |
| Preservative | −9 |
| Added sugar | −5 |
| Whey protein concentrate | −5 |
| Natural flavor | −3 |
| Vitamin A palmitate | −2 |
| Score | 41 → D |
|---|
Shopper notes
- Sold at Walmart and Publix (7.5 oz tub).