Cheddar Flavored Cheese Balls, Cheddar

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Cheddar Flavored Cheese Balls, Cheddar scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Artificial Colors (Yellow 6, Yellow 5): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Whey Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Flavor Enhancers (Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate): Industrial flavor enhancement common in UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Other Snacks, this product is more processed than about 65% of the 7,439 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 Cheddar Flavored Cheese Balls, Cheddar'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.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of The Following: Cottonseed Oil, Corn Oil, Sunflower Oil Or Canola Oil).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Lactic Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.