Is Monterey Jack Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Simply Go
This page reviews Monterey Jack by Simply Go as a dairy. Its current score is 70/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Natamycin.
70 / 100
Why score is 70
The composition includes Monterey Jack cheese with cultured pasteurized milk and salt, alongside an anti-caking blend. The presence of natamycin raises some concerns about synthetic additives.
Main concern
Natamycin is a synthetic mold inhibitor, which, while effective, raises concerns about the inclusion of synthetic additives in the product.
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 cheese is made from cultured pasteurized milk, indicating a fermented dairy product with potential flavor benefits.
- The use of salt in cheese production is standard, contributing to flavor and preservation without significant safety concerns.
Concerns
- Natamycin is a synthetic mold inhibitor, which, while effective, raises concerns about the inclusion of synthetic additives in the product.
- The anti-caking blend contains starches, which may indicate processing that could affect the overall quality of the cheese.
Who should avoid this product?
You may want to be cautious with this product if you are:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- 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 Monterey Jack Cheese safe in this dairy?
Medium
Monterey Jack Cheese is used here as base. Monterey Jack cheese is a fermented dairy product made from cultured pasteurized milk, providing flavor and texture. Its quality is generally acceptable.
Role in formula: base
Original: MONTEREY JACK CHEESE (CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES)
-
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 use is standard and does not raise 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 curd formation and flavor development. Their presence is typical but can vary in source and quality.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: ENZYMES
-
Is Potato Starch safe in this dairy?
Medium
Potato Starch is used here as stabilizer. Potato starch is used as a thickener and stabilizer in the anti-caking blend. While it is a natural ingredient, it indicates processing.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: POTATO STARCH
-
Is Tapioca Starch safe in this dairy?
Medium
Tapioca Starch is used here as stabilizer. Tapioca starch serves a similar function as potato starch, aiding in texture and preventing clumping. Its use suggests some processing.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: TAPIOCA STARCH
-
Is Natamycin safe in this dairy?
Bad
Natamycin is used here as preservative. Natamycin is a natural mold inhibitor used to extend shelf life. While it is effective, its classification as a synthetic additive raises quality concerns.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: NATAMYCIN [A NATURAL 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: 3443980
More from this brand: Simply Go 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.