Cheese Sauce, Cheddar

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Modified Starches (Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Artificial Colors (Yellow 6): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Other Additives (Sodium Hexametaphosphate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Emulsifiers (Mono- And Diglycerides): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Cellulose Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Ketchup & Mustard, this product is more processed than about 77% of the 6,563 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 Cheese Sauce, 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.

Natural FlavorsUPF marker

In this product: Natural Flavors (Includes Milk).

Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Oil (Contains One Or More Of Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Sunflower Oil).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

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.