Is Mexican Style Blend Shredded Cheese Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Kroger
This page reviews Mexican Style Blend Shredded Cheese by Kroger as a dairy. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Color Added, Dextrose.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes pasteurized milk and cheese culture, which are standard for cheese production. However, the presence of color added and dextrose raises concerns about synthetic additives and processing. Ingredients like potato starch and tapioca starch serve as anti-caking agents but indicate a processed nature, affecting overall quality and safety assessment.
Main concern
Color added raises concerns about artificial ingredients, which can indicate a highly processed composition.
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 pasteurized milk and cheese culture, indicating a dairy-based product with traditional cheese-making processes.
- Calcium sulfate is included, which can enhance texture and stability in cheese products.
Concerns
- Color added raises concerns about artificial ingredients, which can indicate a highly processed composition.
- Dextrose is a refined sugar that may not be necessary in cheese, contributing to the processed nature of the product.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- users trying to avoid sulfates
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
The ingredient notes below are written to explain what each ingredient does in this dairy and why it matters.
-
Is Pasteurized Milk safe in this dairy?
Good
Pasteurized Milk is used here as base. Pasteurized milk is the primary ingredient, providing the essential dairy base for cheese. Its pasteurization ensures safety by eliminating harmful bacteria, contributing positively to the product's quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: pasteurized milk
-
Is Cheese Culture safe in this dairy?
Good
Cheese Culture is used here as natural_extract. Cheese culture consists of beneficial bacteria that aid in fermentation and flavor development. This natural component is crucial for traditional cheese-making, enhancing the product's authenticity.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: cheese culture
-
Is Salt safe in this dairy?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is a common ingredient in cheese, enhancing flavor and acting as a preservative. Its presence is essential for taste and helps in the overall preservation of the cheese.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
Is Enzymes safe in this dairy?
Medium
Enzymes is used here as enzyme. Enzymes are added to facilitate the cheese-making process, aiding in curd formation. While they are necessary for production, the specific type and source can vary, raising some quality considerations.
Role in formula: enzyme
Original: enzymes
-
Is Color Added safe in this dairy?
Bad
Color Added is used here as colorant. Color added is a synthetic ingredient used to enhance the visual appeal of the cheese. Its presence indicates a processed nature and raises concerns about artificial additives in the product.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: color added
-
Is Potato Starch safe in this dairy?
Medium
Potato Starch is used here as stabilizer. Potato starch is used as an anti-caking agent to prevent clumping in shredded cheese. While it serves a functional purpose, it also indicates a level of processing that may not align with natural cheese products.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: potato starch
-
Is Tapioca Starch safe in this dairy?
Medium
Tapioca Starch is used here as stabilizer. Tapioca starch functions similarly to potato starch, helping to maintain texture and prevent clumping. Its inclusion suggests processing, which can detract from the product's overall quality.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: tapioca starch
-
Is Dextrose safe in this dairy?
Bad
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a refined sugar that may be used to enhance flavor or texture. Its presence in cheese is unusual and raises concerns about unnecessary additives in the product.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: dextrose
-
Is Calcium Sulfate safe in this dairy?
Medium
Calcium Sulfate is used here as stabilizer. Calcium sulfate is added to improve texture and stability in cheese products. While it serves a functional role, it is a processed ingredient that may not be necessary in traditional cheese.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: calcium sulfate
-
Is Natamycin safe in this dairy?
Medium
Natamycin is used here as preservative. Natamycin is a natural mold inhibitor used to extend shelf life. While it is effective, its inclusion indicates a level of processing that may not align with more natural cheese options.
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: 2358680
More from this brand: Kroger products in Zerotox
Similar products: dairy in Zerotox database
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.