Is Cheese & Crackers Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Sargento Balanced Breaks
Cheese & Crackers is one of the snack products analyzed by Zerotox for Sargento Balanced Breaks. The product scores 70/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The product contains Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, which are natural dairy products, but also includes processed ingredients like sugar and canola oil. This mix raises moderate quality concerns.
70 / 100
Why score is 70
The product contains Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, which are natural dairy products, but also includes processed ingredients like sugar and canola oil. This mix raises moderate quality concerns.
Main concern
Canola oil is a processed oil that may raise concerns about quality and health implications.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses are made from pasteurized milk and cheese cultures, indicating a natural dairy base.
- Whole grain wheat flour in the crackers provides some fiber and nutrients compared to refined flours.
Concerns
- Canola oil is a processed oil that may raise concerns about quality and health implications.
- The presence of sugar and malt syrup in the crackers indicates added sweeteners, which can detract from overall healthiness.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this snack.
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Is Monterey Jack Cheese safe in this snack?
Good
Monterey Jack Cheese is used here as base. Monterey Jack cheese is a natural dairy product made from pasteurized milk, contributing protein and calcium. Its quality is generally high.
Role in formula: base
Original: Monterey Jack Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes)
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Is Cheddar Cheese safe in this snack?
Good
Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Cheddar cheese is also a natural dairy product, providing similar benefits as Monterey Jack. It is made from pasteurized milk and cheese cultures.
Role in formula: base
Original: Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto (Vegetable Color))
-
Is Whole Grain Wheat Flour safe in this snack?
Good
Whole Grain Wheat Flour is used here as base. Whole grain wheat flour is less processed than white flour, retaining more nutrients and fiber, which is beneficial for health.
Role in formula: base
Original: Whole Grain Wheat Flour
-
Is Canola Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Canola Oil is used here as base. Canola oil is a refined oil that may raise concerns due to its processing and potential health implications associated with high omega-6 fatty acids.
Role in formula: base
Original: Canola Oil
-
Is Sugar safe in this snack?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is an added sweetener that can contribute to excessive calorie intake and may have negative health effects when consumed in large amounts.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Sugar
-
Is Corn Starch safe in this snack?
Medium
Corn Starch is used here as thickener. Corn starch is a processed ingredient used for thickening and texture, but it lacks nutritional benefits and raises concerns about processing.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Corn Starch
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Is Malt Syrup safe in this snack?
Medium
Malt Syrup is used here as sweetener. Malt syrup is a sweetener derived from grains, adding sugars to the product, which can detract from its overall healthiness.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Malt Syrup (from Corn and Barley)
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Is Salt safe in this snack?
Good
Salt is used here as base. Salt is a common ingredient that enhances flavor but should be consumed in moderation to avoid health issues.
Role in formula: base
Original: Salt
-
Is Refiner S Syrup safe in this snack?
Medium
Refiner S Syrup is used here as sweetener. Refiner's syrup is a processed sweetener that adds sugars to the product, raising concerns about excessive sugar intake.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Refiner's Syrup
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Is Leavening safe in this snack?
Medium
Leavening is used here as thickener. Leavening agents like calcium phosphate and baking soda are used to create texture in baked goods but are processed ingredients.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Leavening (Calcium Phosphate and Baking Soda)
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Is Potato Starch safe in this snack?
Medium
Potato Starch is used here as thickener. Potato starch is used to prevent caking but is a processed ingredient that lacks nutritional value.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: Potato Starch (To Prevent Caking)
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3219544
More from this brand: Sargento Balanced Breaks products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk , wheat
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.