Banquet Ham and Cheese Breadstick

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Banquet Ham and Cheese Breadstick scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch, Modified Potato Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Casein, Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Methylcellulose, Carob Bean Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.
• Emulsifiers (Mono- And Diglycerides): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.

Within Prepared Entrees, this product is more processed than about 53% of the 6,999 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Banquet Ham and Cheese Breadstick's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Cooked Ham (Ham, Water, Sodium Lactate, Salt, Dextrose, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Phosphates, Smoke Flavoring, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite), Cheddar Flavored Bread Crumbs (Bleached Wheat Flour, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes], Salt, Whey, Sugar, Buttermilk Solids, Yellow Corn Flour, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Extractives Of Paprika), Cheddar Cheese Blend (Whey, Cheddar Cheese [{Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes}, Maltodextrin, Buttermilk, Salt, Canola Oil, Sodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid], Modified Food Starch, Corn Syrup Solids, Whey, Coconut Oil, Salt, Phosphate [Calcium, Sodium, Potassium], Natural Flavor, Color [Annatto, Turmeric], Maltodextrin, Sodium Caseinate, Yeast Extract, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sugar, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Mono & Diglycerides, Disodium Inosinate, Buttermilk, Nonfat Dry Milk, Lactic Acid, Calcium Lactate, Soy Lecithin, Onion), Dextrose, and 2 more.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil Blend (Soybean Oil, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Citric Acid), Soybean Oil, Sunflower Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Baking Powder (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Aluminum Sulfate, Cornstarch, Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Sulfate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast (Yeast, Starch, Sorbitan Monostearate, May Contain Ascorbic Acid).

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vitamin Blend (Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin And Vitamin B-12), Vitamin A Palmitate. Cheesy Bacon Dipping Sauce: Water, Color (Corn Oil, Beta Carotene, D-Alpha-Tocopherol)._x000d_contains: Milk.

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.