3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean), plus modified starch, preservative, corn syrup solids, added sugar, whey protein concentrate, natural flavor, added color, added acid and vitamin a palmitate.
Grade
FFull check
−70 points
Check before buying. Lists “enzymes” without saying they're microbial. Could be animal-derived.
Ingredients, in label order
Explain every ingredient
- Pasteurized milk and cream — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- sugar — Watch. Added sugar.
- nonfat milk — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- strawberry puree — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- modified food starch — Red flag. Modified starch: a cheap thickener that replaces real cheese body.
- whey protein concentrate — Watch. Whey protein concentrate: added milk protein that firms the texture. Not in traditional cream cheese.
- 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.
- vegetable juice (color) — Watch. Added color (from plant sources).
- 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.
- whey — Watch. Whey (a cheesemaking byproduct) added back in.
- natural flavor — Watch. “Natural flavor”: an undisclosed flavoring blend.
- butter (cream) — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- corn syrup solids — Red flag. Corn syrup solids: sweetener and filler.
- buttermilk — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- 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.
- vitamin A palmitate — Watch. Vitamin A palmitate: added back after fat is reduced.
- enzymes — Watch. Enzymes with no source given. Could be animal-derived. Check with the maker if you're strict.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| 3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean) | −27 |
| Modified starch | −8 |
| Preservative | −9 |
| Corn syrup solids | −6 |
| Added sugar | −5 |
| Whey protein concentrate | −5 |
| Natural flavor | −3 |
| Added color | −3 |
| Added acid | −2 |
| Vitamin A palmitate | −2 |
| Score | 30 → F |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralphsnot confirmed | 7.5 oz | — | — |
Shopper notes
- Lists “enzymes” with no source. They could be animal-derived. Kraft Heinz doesn't say, so treat it as not confirmed vegetarian.