3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean), plus modified starch, preservative, whey protein concentrate, added acid and vitamin a palmitate.
Grade
DFull check
−53 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.
- skim milk — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- whey protein concentrate — Watch. Whey protein concentrate: added milk protein that firms the texture. Not in traditional cream cheese.
- modified food starch — Red flag. Modified starch: a cheap thickener that replaces real cheese body.
- 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.
- xanthan gum — Red flag. Gum/stabilizer (xanthan). Thickens a cream cheese that wasn't cultured or drained long enough to hold its shape.
- 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.
- lactic acid — Watch. Added acid, used for tang instead of longer culturing.
- vitamin A palmitate — Watch. Vitamin A palmitate: added back after fat is reduced.
- 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 |
| 3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean) | −27 |
| Modified starch | −8 |
| Preservative | −9 |
| Whey protein concentrate | −5 |
| Added acid | −2 |
| Vitamin A palmitate | −2 |
| Score | 47 → D |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 12 oz | $5.69 | $0.47/oz |
| Target | 8 oz | $3.99 | $0.50/oz |
| Ralphs | 12 oz | $6.99 | $0.58/oz |
| Ralphs | 8 oz | $4.99 | $0.62/oz |
Shopper notes
- Whipping adds air, so a “8 oz” tub holds less cheese by volume than you'd think. Trader Joe's whipped does it without starch or preservative.