2 gum types (guar, xanthan), plus preservative and natural flavor.
Grade
CFull check
−33 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.
- onions — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- salt — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- carrots — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- green bell peppers — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- guar gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (guar). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- cucumbers — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- red bell peppers — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- dried carrots — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- dried green bell peppers — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- dried red bell peppers — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- natural flavor (contains celery) — Watch. “Natural flavor”: an undisclosed flavoring blend.
- xanthan gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (xanthan). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor) — Red flag. Natamycin: an antifungal preservative. Labeled “natural,” but it's there to extend shelf life.
- cheese culture — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| 2 gum types (guar, xanthan) | −21 |
| Preservative | −9 |
| Natural flavor | −3 |
| Score | 67 → C |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 7.5 oz | $3.49 | $0.47/oz |
| Ralphs | 7.5 oz | $4.49 | $0.60/oz |