Is Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Lucerne Dairy Farms
Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese is one of the dairy products analyzed by Zerotox for Lucerne Dairy Farms. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The sections below explain why ingredients like Powdered Cellulose, Natamycin affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes cheddar cheese made from cultured pasteurized milk, salt, and enzymes, which are standard for cheese production. However, the presence of powdered cellulose and natamycin raises concerns about processing and synthetic additives, impacting the overall quality assessment.
Main concern
Powdered cellulose is used as an anticaking agent, which is a processed ingredient that may raise quality concerns.
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
- Contains cultured pasteurized milk, which is a standard ingredient in cheese production, indicating a traditional method.
- Salt is a natural preservative that enhances flavor and contributes to the cheese's overall taste profile.
Concerns
- Powdered cellulose is used as an anticaking agent, which is a processed ingredient that may raise quality concerns.
- Natamycin is a synthetic mold inhibitor that, while effective, indicates the use of artificial additives in the product.
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 dairy.
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Is Cheddar Cheese safe in this dairy?
Medium
Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Cheddar cheese is made from cultured pasteurized milk, salt, and enzymes, providing the primary flavor and texture of this product. The use of cultured milk indicates a traditional cheese-making process, although pasteurization may reduce some natural cultures.
Role in formula: base
Original: Cheddar cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes, color added)
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Is Potato Starch safe in this dairy?
Medium
Potato Starch is used here as emulsifier. Potato starch is used as an anticaking agent to prevent clumping in shredded cheese. While it is a natural ingredient, its processing raises some concerns about the overall quality of the product.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: potato starch
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Is Powdered Cellulose safe in this dairy?
Bad
Powdered Cellulose is used here as anticaking agent. Powdered cellulose is a processed ingredient derived from plant fibers, used to prevent clumping. Its presence indicates a level of processing that may not align with clean ingredient preferences.
Role in formula: anticaking agent
Original: powdered cellulose
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Is Natamycin safe in this dairy?
Bad
Natamycin is used here as preservative. Natamycin is a synthetic mold inhibitor that helps extend shelf life. While effective, its synthetic nature raises concerns about the use of artificial preservatives in food products.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: natamycin (mold inhibitor)
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: 2390743
More from this brand: Lucerne Dairy Farms products in Zerotox
Similar products: dairy in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.