Cheese Sauce, Jalapeno

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

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

• Modified Starches (Modified Food Starch): Chemical modification is a hallmark of UPF.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavors, Monosodium Glutamate): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.
• Emulsifiers (Datem, Mono- And Diglycerides): Industrial emulsifiers indicate UPF.

Within Ketchup & Mustard, this product is more processed than about 77% of the 6,563 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 Sauce, Jalapeno'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 (Sunflower Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil).

Natural oils are minimally processed, hydrogenated oils indicate UPF.

Sugars & Natural SweetenersProcessing indicator

In this product: Maltodextrin.

Natural sugars acceptable in moderation, excessive amounts indicate UPF.

Salt & SodiumProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt.

Basic preservative, but high amounts indicate processing.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Sodium Phosphate.

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Natural ColorsProcessing indicator

In this product: Color Added (Caramel Color, Yellow 5, Yellow 6).

Natural sources but still indicate processing.