Is Extra Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Rouses Markets
Extra Sharp Cheddar Shredded Cheese is one of the dairy products analyzed by Zerotox for Rouses Markets. 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 Anti Caking Blend, Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes cheddar cheese and cultured pasteurized milk, which are natural dairy ingredients. However, the presence of anti-caking agents like potato starch and tapioca starch, along with natamycin as a preservative, raises concerns about processing and synthetic additives, impacting the overall quality assessment.
Main concern
Includes anti-caking blend with potato starch and tapioca starch, which are processed ingredients 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 cheddar cheese, a natural dairy product that contributes to flavor and texture.
- Cultured pasteurized milk adds beneficial bacteria, enhancing the cheese's quality.
Concerns
- Includes anti-caking blend with potato starch and tapioca starch, which are processed ingredients that may raise quality concerns.
- Natamycin is a synthetic preservative that, while effective, indicates a level of processing that may not align with clean ingredient preferences.
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?
Good
Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Cheddar cheese is a natural dairy product that provides flavor and texture to this shredded cheese. Its presence indicates a quality ingredient that contributes positively to the overall composition.
Role in formula: base
Original: cheddar cheese
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Is Cultured Pasteurized Milk safe in this dairy?
Good
Cultured Pasteurized Milk is used here as base. Cultured pasteurized milk is a natural ingredient that introduces beneficial bacteria, enhancing the flavor and quality of the cheese. It supports the product's dairy profile without synthetic intervention.
Role in formula: base
Original: cultured pasteurized milk
Read the full ingredient profile for Cultured Pasteurized Milk
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Is Salt safe in this dairy?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is a natural mineral used to enhance flavor in this cheese. It plays a crucial role in preserving the product and contributes to the overall taste without raising significant safety concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Enzymes safe in this dairy?
Medium
Enzymes is used here as flavor. Enzymes are used in cheese production to aid in the curdling process. While they are necessary for texture and flavor development, the specific source and processing of these enzymes can vary, raising some quality considerations.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: enzymes
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Is Annatto safe in this dairy?
Medium
Annatto is used here as colorant. Annatto is a natural colorant derived from the seeds of the achiote tree, used to impart a yellow-orange color to the cheese. While it is natural, its processing and potential for allergic reactions in sensitive individuals warrant consideration.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: annatto
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Is Anti Caking Blend safe in this dairy?
Bad
Anti Caking Blend is used here as stabilizer. The anti-caking blend, which includes potato starch and tapioca starch, is added to prevent clumping. These processed ingredients raise concerns about the overall quality and indicate a level of processing that may not align with clean ingredient preferences.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: anti-caking blend
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Is Potato Starch safe in this dairy?
Bad
Potato Starch is used here as stabilizer. Potato starch is a processed ingredient used to prevent clumping in shredded cheese. While it serves a functional purpose, its presence indicates a level of processing that may detract from the overall quality assessment.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: potato starch
-
Is Tapioca Starch safe in this dairy?
Bad
Tapioca Starch is used here as stabilizer. Tapioca starch is another processed ingredient used for anti-caking purposes. Its inclusion raises concerns about the product's overall processing level and may not align with preferences for minimal processing.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: tapioca starch
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Is Natamycin safe in this dairy?
Bad
Natamycin is used here as preservative. Natamycin is a synthetic preservative used to inhibit mold growth in cheese. While effective, its synthetic nature raises quality concerns and indicates a level of processing that may not be desirable for all consumers.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: natamycin
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: 2378537
More from this brand: Rouses Markets 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.