Cheese

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Dough Conditioners (L-Cysteine): Industrial bread additives not used in home baking.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Corn Starch And Powdered Cellulose (To Prevent Caking). Sauce: Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste)): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Pizza, this product is more processed than about 24% of the 4,362 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'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, Olive Oil, Olive Pomace Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Yeast.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Bread Crumbs (Wheat Flour, Yeast, Sugar, Salt), Sugar, Honey.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

Food Bases & AlkalisProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Bicarbonate.

Common in baking, excessive use indicates processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Aluminum Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid. Cheese: Low Moisture Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Cultured Pasteurized Part Skim Milk, Salt, Enzymes), Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.