Jalapenos with Cheddar Cheese

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavor): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Sodium Alginate): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Frozen Appetizers, this product is more processed than about 39% of the 4,714 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 Jalapenos with Cheddar Cheese'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.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Green Jalapeno Peppers [Peppers, Water, Acetic Acid, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)].

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Pasteurized Process Cheddar Cheese [Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Water, Milkfat, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Salt, Artificial Color], Cheese Sauce Mix [Dehydrated Blend Of Cheese (Semisoft And Cheddar Cheeses (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes)), Food Starch-Modified, Whey, Salt, Cellulose Gum, Butter, Sodium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Yellow 5, Yellow 6].

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vegetable Oil (Soybean And/Or Canola).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Food Starch-Modified. Contains 2% Or Less Of Dextrose.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Leavening (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate).

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast, Yeast Nutrients (Calcium Sulfate, Ammonium Chloride).

Industrial fermentation for additive production.