Queso Cheese Potato Chips, Queso Cheese

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Corn-Based Sweeteners (Corn Syrup Solids): HFCS is a hallmark of ultra-processed foods.
• Processed Dairy Ingredients (Whey Protein Concentrate): Isolated proteins and modified ingredients indicate UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavors): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Stabilizers & Gums (Gum Arabic): Industrial stabilizers common in UPF.

Within Chips & Crisps, this product is more processed than about 85% of the 10,682 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 Queso Cheese Potato Chips, Queso 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: Vegetable Oil (Canola, Corn, Soybean, And/Or 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.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin (Made From Corn).

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Citric Acid, Lactic Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

Industrial FermentationProcessing indicator

In this product: Autolyzed Yeast Extract.

Industrial fermentation for additive production.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Annatto Extracts.

Natural sources but still indicate processing.