Key findings
- 1The "real cheese" in Cheez-Its is a minor ingredient by weight in a formulation dominated by refined flour and industrial oils
- 2Enriched flour means the wheat was stripped of its bran and germ, then had synthetic B vitamins and iron added back
- 3A cracker with actual cheese on top (like a Triscuit with cheddar) delivers cheese as a primary ingredient rather than a flavoring agent
Why is Cheez-Its ultra-processed on average?
The "made with real cheese" claim on Cheez-Its is technically accurate but may suggest cheese is the primary ingredient. The cheese is just one ingredient among many in a highly processed cracker formulation. The base is enriched wheat flour (refined, bleached, with added synthetic vitamins), soybean and palm oil (industrially refined), and salt. Chemical leavening (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate) replaces yeast. The real cheese is processed into a powder or paste form that can be uniformly distributed through the dough at industrial scale. Paprika oleoresin (an extracted color compound) provides the characteristic orange color. The result is a shelf-stable product that tastes cheesy but is primarily refined flour and oil, a very different thing from cheese on a cracker. In our analysis, Cheez-Its average a Processing Score of 13.6, which is Level 4.
How 32 cheez-its products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Cheez-Its brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a Cheez-Its label
- 1
"Made with real cheese" means cheese is present, not that it is the primary ingredient; check its position in the ingredient list
- 2
Enriched flour indicates refined, bleached grain with synthetic nutrients added back
- 3
Paprika oleoresin is an extracted coloring agent, not the same as paprika spice
- 4
Multiple oil sources (soybean oil, palm oil) are typical of manufactured formulations optimized for cost and shelf life
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Frequently asked questions
Do Cheez-Its actually contain real cheese?
Yes, cheese is listed as an ingredient, but it is a minor component processed into a form suitable for industrial dough mixing. The primary ingredients are enriched flour and vegetable oils. It is more accurate to think of Cheez-Its as flavored crackers than as cheese crackers.
Are Cheez-Its healthier than Goldfish?
Both are crackers with similar ingredient profiles: enriched flour, vegetable oils, cheese, and chemical additives. In our analysis, Cheez-Its average Level 4; search Goldfish to see its own average.
What is a less processed alternative to Cheez-Its?
A Triscuit (three ingredients: wheat, oil, salt) topped with real sliced cheese provides actual cheese as the primary flavor and is far less processed. Seed-based crackers with real cheese are another simpler option.
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