Is Mingles Cheddar & Sour Cream Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Pringles
Mingles Cheddar & Sour Cream is a snack from Pringles. It has a Zerotox safety score of 60/100, which means it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
The main ingredients worth reviewing are Monosodium Glutamate, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Disodium Inosinate.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The ingredient composition includes several processed components like monosodium glutamate and artificial flavors, which raise quality concerns. The presence of whey and buttermilk indicates dairy content.
Main concern
Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that raises concerns about synthetic additives.
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, providing a source of flavor and dairy.
- Includes onion powder, which adds natural flavor without synthetic additives.
Concerns
- Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that raises concerns about synthetic additives.
- Artificial flavors and colors (Yellow 5, Yellow 6) indicate a highly processed product.
Who should avoid this product?
This snack may not be the best fit for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this snack so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Degerminated Yellow Corn Meal safe in this snack?
Medium
Degerminated Yellow Corn Meal is used here as base. Degerminated yellow corn meal serves as the primary ingredient, providing texture and bulk. Its processing raises some concerns about nutrient loss.
Role in formula: base
Original: DEGERMINATED YELLOW CORN MEAL
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Is Vegetable Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Vegetable Oil is used here as base. A blend of soybean, high oleic soybean, canola, and/or corn oil is used for frying, contributing to texture but raising concerns about refined oils.
Role in formula: base
Original: VEGETABLE OIL (SOYBEAN, HIGH OLEIC SOYBEΑΝ, CANOLA AND/OR CORN WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS)
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Is Whey safe in this snack?
Medium
Whey is used here as base. Whey is a dairy byproduct that adds protein and flavor but may be a concern for those with lactose intolerance.
Role in formula: base
Original: WHEY
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Is Salt safe in this snack?
Good
Salt is used here as base. Salt enhances flavor and is a common ingredient in snacks, contributing to taste without significant safety concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: SALT
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Is Monosodium Glutamate safe in this snack?
Bad
Monosodium Glutamate is used here as flavor. Monosodium glutamate is a flavor enhancer that can cause sensitivity in some individuals, raising concerns about synthetic additives.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE
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Is Buttermilk safe in this snack?
Medium
Buttermilk is used here as base. Buttermilk adds a tangy flavor and creaminess, but its presence indicates dairy content, which may not suit all diets.
Role in formula: base
Original: BUTTERMILK
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Is Maltodextrin safe in this snack?
Medium
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a thickening agent derived from starch, contributing to texture but raising concerns about its processed nature.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: MALTODEXTRIN
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Is Coconut Oil safe in this snack?
Medium
Coconut Oil is used here as base. Coconut oil is used for flavor and texture but is a saturated fat, which raises some health concerns when consumed in excess.
Role in formula: base
Original: COCONUT OIL
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Is Dextrose safe in this snack?
Medium
Dextrose is used here as sweetener. Dextrose is a simple sugar that adds sweetness but contributes to the overall sugar content, raising concerns for some consumers.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: DEXTROSE
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Is Sugar safe in this snack?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is added for sweetness, but its presence raises concerns about excessive sugar intake in processed snacks.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SUGAR
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Is Cheddar Cheese safe in this snack?
Good
Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Cheddar cheese adds flavor and richness, sourced from milk, but may not be suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
Role in formula: base
Original: CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, SALT, CHEESE CULTURES, ENZYMES)
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Is Onion Powder safe in this snack?
Good
Onion Powder is used here as flavor. Onion powder provides natural flavor without synthetic additives, contributing positively to the overall composition.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: ONION POWDER
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Is Calcium Carbonate safe in this snack?
Medium
Calcium Carbonate is used here as buffer. Calcium carbonate is used as a firming agent and may contribute to calcium content, but its synthetic nature raises some concerns.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: CALCIUM CARBONATE
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Is Lactic Acid safe in this snack?
Medium
Lactic Acid is used here as acidulant. Lactic acid is used for flavor and preservation, derived from fermentation, but its processing raises some concerns.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: LACTIC ACID
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Is Sour Cream safe in this snack?
Medium
Sour Cream is used here as base. Sour cream adds creaminess and tang, but its dairy content may not be suitable for all consumers.
Role in formula: base
Original: SOUR CREAM (CREAM, NONFAT MILK, CULTURES)
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Is Citric Acid safe in this snack?
Medium
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is used for flavor and preservation, derived from citrus fruits, but its processing raises some concerns.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: CITRIC ACID
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Is Butter safe in this snack?
Medium
Butter is used here as base. Butter adds richness and flavor but is a saturated fat, which raises health concerns when consumed in excess.
Role in formula: base
Original: BUTTER (CREAM, SALT)
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Is Natural And Artificial Flavors safe in this snack?
Bad
Natural And Artificial Flavors is used here as flavor. The inclusion of both natural and artificial flavors raises concerns about the quality and safety of flavoring agents used.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
Read the full ingredient profile for Natural And Artificial Flavors
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Is Disodium Inosinate safe in this snack?
Bad
Disodium Inosinate is used here as flavor. Disodium inosinate is a flavor enhancer that may raise concerns about synthetic additives and their effects on health.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: DISODIUM INOSINATE
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Is Disodium Guanylate safe in this snack?
Bad
Disodium Guanylate is used here as flavor. Disodium guanylate is another flavor enhancer that raises concerns about synthetic additives and potential sensitivities.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: DISODIUM GUANYLATE
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Is Yeast Extract safe in this snack?
Medium
Yeast Extract is used here as flavor. Yeast extract is used for flavor enhancement and is a source of umami, but its processing raises some concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: YEAST EXTRACT
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Is Milk Fat safe in this snack?
Medium
Milk Fat is used here as base. Milk fat contributes to creaminess and flavor but may not be suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
Role in formula: base
Original: MILK FAT
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Is Yellow 5 safe in this snack?
Bad
Yellow 5 is used here as colorant. Yellow 5 is an artificial colorant that raises concerns about synthetic additives and potential allergic reactions.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: YELLOW 5
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Is Yellow 6 safe in this snack?
Bad
Yellow 6 is used here as colorant. Yellow 6 is another artificial colorant that raises concerns about synthetic additives and potential health effects.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: YELLOW 6
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: 2437410
More from this brand: Pringles products in Zerotox
Similar products: snack 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.