3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean), plus added sugar, natural flavor, added acid and maltodextrin.
Grade
DFull check
−41 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.
- water — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- sea salt — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- dried onions — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- cheese cultures — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- maltodextrin — Watch. Maltodextrin: a starch-based filler.
- salt — Core cream cheese. Core cream cheese ingredient.
- sugar — Watch. Added sugar.
- dried dill weed — Real-food add-in. Real-food ingredient.
- dried garlic — 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.
- citric acid (acidifier) — Watch. Added acid, used for tang instead of longer culturing.
- vinegar powder — Watch. Added acid, used for tang instead of longer culturing.
- 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.
- 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.
Score breakdown
| Starting score | 100 |
| 3 gum types (guar, xanthan, carob/locust bean) | −27 |
| Added sugar | −5 |
| Natural flavor | −3 |
| Added acid | −2 |
| Maltodextrin | −4 |
| Score | 59 → D |
|---|
Where to buy
| Store | Size | Price | Per oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trader Joe's | 8 oz | $2.79 | $0.35/oz |