Sharp Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Sharp Cheddar

Why Does This Score Highly Processed?

In our analysis, Sharp Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Sharp Cheddar scores Highly 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.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Other Additives (Sodium Hexametaphosphate): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Sodium Alginate, Xanthan Gum): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Cheese, this product is more processed than about 78% of the 19,171 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 Sharp Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Sharp 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: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Less Than 2% Of: Lactic Acid, Sorbic Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Annatto.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.