Pimiento Cheese Spread

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (High Fructose Corn Syrup): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Modified Starches (Less Than 2% Of: Modified Corn Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Chemical Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate): Synthetic preservatives are UPF indicators.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Milk Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Other Additives (Gums (Carrageenan, Guar, Xanthan, And Locust Bean)): Miscellaneous additives generally indicate processing.

Within Cheese, this product is more processed than about 94% 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 Pimiento Cheese Spread'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 Flavor.

Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Vegetable OilsProcessing indicator

In this product: Soybean Oil.

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.