Complete Cheese Guide
Comprehensive analysis of 200 cheese products from 73 brands. Compare processing levels from artisan to processed cheese products, and find the healthiest options.
200
Products Analyzed
73
Brands
2.8
Avg Processing Score
3.5/10
Avg Nutrition Score
Cheese by Processing Level
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally Processed34
Natural cheese with minimal ingredients. Just milk, cultures, salt, enzymes.
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
Processed166
Slightly processed with added flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Processing Level: 3 out of 4 - Highly Processed
Level 3
Highly Processed0
Processed cheese with emulsifiers, stabilizers, or multiple additives.
Processing Level: 4 out of 4 - Ultra-Processed
Level 4
Ultra-Processed0
Highly processed cheese products with many additives and artificial ingredients.
Healthiest Cheese Options
Top-rated cheese products with minimal processing and high nutrition scores
Ricotta Cheese
Tops
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:7.0/10
Cottage Cheese
Daisy
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:6.0/10
Light Ricotta Cheese
Dutch Farms
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.5
Nutrition:6.0/10
Deli Sliced Cheese
Iga
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:5.5/10
Natural Swiss Cheese
Key Food
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:5.5/10
Swiss Deli Style Thin Sliced Cheese, Swiss
Stater Bros.
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:5.0/10
Baby Swiss Natural Cheese
Sara Lee
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:5.0/10
Sliced Extra Thin Swiss Cheese
Tops
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:3.0
Nutrition:5.0/10
Sliced Swiss Cheese
Tops
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:3.0
Nutrition:5.0/10
Swiss Cheese Slices
Hy-vee
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:3.0
Nutrition:5.0/10
Swiss Cheese
El Quesero
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:3.0
Nutrition:5.0/10
Swiss Deli Style Cheese Slices, Swiss
Stater Bros.
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:4.5/10
How to Choose Healthy Cheese
✓What to Look For
- •Simple ingredients: Best cheese has just 4 ingredients - milk, cultures, salt, and enzymes
- •Natural cheese: Made from milk and aged, not processed cheese products with emulsifiers and preservatives
- •Low processing score: Look for cheese with processing scores under 3.0 (natural cheese typically scores 1.0-2.0)
- •Aged varieties: Aged cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and swiss are lower in lactose and richer in flavor
- •Lower sodium: Compare brands and choose options with lower sodium content when possible
✗Red Flags to Avoid
- •Emulsifiers: Sodium phosphate and other emulsifiers indicate processed cheese products
- •Artificial colors: Added colors indicate higher processing levels
- •Preservatives: Natural cheese doesn't need added preservatives
- •Modified food starch: Used as filler in processed cheese products
- •"Pasteurized process cheese": Labels indicating heavily processed cheese products, not natural cheese