Is Mr. Cheese O's, Crunchy Real Cheese Snacks, Cheddar Safe? Ingredient Analysis

Sonoma Creamery

This page reviews Mr. Cheese O's, Crunchy Real Cheese Snacks, Cheddar by Sonoma Creamery as a snack. 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: Annatto.

70 / 100

Moderate quality

Why score is 70

The ingredient composition includes cheese (pasteurized cultured milk) and cheddar powder, which are natural dairy products. However, the presence of annatto as a colorant raises some quality concerns due to its synthetic nature.

Main concern

Annatto is a synthetic colorant 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 cheese and cheddar powder, providing a natural dairy source.
  • Includes organic quinoa and oat bran, adding whole grain benefits.
  • Uses garlic for flavor, which is a natural ingredient.
  • The product is crunchy and appealing for snack purposes.

Concerns

  • Annatto is a synthetic colorant that may raise quality concerns.
  • Contains salt, which can be a concern for sodium intake.
  • Enzymes used may be processed, affecting overall ingredient quality.
  • The presence of multiple grains may not suit all dietary preferences.

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 snack and why it matters.

  • Is Cheese Pasteurized Cultured Milk safe in this snack?

    Good

    Cheese Pasteurized Cultured Milk is used here as base. Cheese pasteurized cultured milk serves as the primary ingredient, providing a natural dairy source rich in flavor and texture. Its quality is generally high, contributing positively to the product.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: Cheese pasteurized cultured milk

  • Is Salt safe in this snack?

    Medium

    Salt is used here as flavor. Salt is added for flavor enhancement, but excessive consumption can raise health concerns. Its presence is common in snack foods, indicating moderate processing.

    Role in formula: flavor

    Original: salt

    Read the full ingredient profile for Salt

  • Is Enzymes safe in this snack?

    Medium

    Enzymes is used here as flavor. Enzymes are included to aid in the cheese-making process, enhancing flavor and texture. However, their processing level can vary, which may affect ingredient quality.

    Role in formula: flavor

    Original: enzymes

    Read the full ingredient profile for Enzymes

  • Is Annatto safe in this snack?

    Bad

    Annatto is used here as colorant. Annatto is a synthetic colorant used to enhance the visual appeal of the product. Its inclusion raises concerns about synthetic additives in the composition.

    Role in formula: colorant

    Original: annatto

    Read the full ingredient profile for Annatto

  • Is Organic Quinoa safe in this snack?

    Good

    Organic Quinoa is used here as base. Organic quinoa is a whole grain that adds nutritional value and texture to the snack. Its organic status supports a cleaner ingredient profile.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: organic quinoa

    Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Quinoa

  • Is Garlic safe in this snack?

    Good

    Garlic is used here as flavor. Garlic is a natural flavoring agent that enhances the taste profile of the snack. It is generally regarded as a beneficial ingredient.

    Role in formula: flavor

    Original: garlic

    Read the full ingredient profile for Garlic

  • Is Oat Bran safe in this snack?

    Good

    Oat Bran is used here as base. Oat bran contributes dietary fiber and texture, supporting a more wholesome snack option. Its presence is beneficial for overall quality.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: oat bran

    Read the full ingredient profile for Oat Bran

  • Is Organic Brown Rice safe in this snack?

    Good

    Organic Brown Rice is used here as base. Organic brown rice adds whole grain benefits and texture to the snack. Its organic certification enhances the product's quality.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: organic brown rice

    Read the full ingredient profile for Organic Brown Rice

  • Is Cheddar Powder safe in this snack?

    Medium

    Cheddar Powder is used here as flavor. Cheddar powder is used for flavor enhancement, but its processing level may raise concerns about ingredient quality. It contributes to the cheesy taste.

    Role in formula: flavor

    Original: cheddar powder

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: 2399085

More from this brand: Sonoma Creamery 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.

Frequently asked questions

Based on our data we do not detect fragrance in this product's listed ingredients. Formulations can change; check the label.
We do not detect parabens in this product's listed ingredients. Always check the label as formulations change.
Sonoma Creamery — Mr. Cheese O's, Crunchy Real Cheese Snacks, Cheddar has a Zerotox score of 70 / 100 among snack products. See the full breakdown above.
This product is flagged for: Annatto is a synthetic colorant that may raise quality concerns.; Contains salt, which can be a concern for sodium intake.; Enzymes used may be processed, affecting overall ingredient quality.. See the Concerns and Ingredients sections above.
We detected: milk. If you have allergies, check the label and the Ingredients section above.
This product includes positive or neutral ingredients such as: cheese pasteurized cultured milk, organic quinoa, garlic. See the Ingredients section above.
Our analysis notes: Contains cheese and cheddar powder, providing a natural dairy source.; Includes organic quinoa and oat bran, adding whole grain benefits.; Uses garlic for flavor, which is a natural ingredient.. See the Pros section above.
Zerotox gives Sonoma Creamery — Mr. Cheese O's, Crunchy Real Cheese Snacks, Cheddar a safety score of 70 / 100 based on ingredients. See the breakdown above. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
The ingredient composition includes cheese (pasteurized cultured milk) and cheddar powder, which are natural dairy products. However, the presence of annatto as a colorant raises some quality concerns due to its synthetic nature. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Yes. Sonoma Creamery — Mr. Cheese O's, Crunchy Real Cheese Snacks, Cheddar has a Zerotox score of 70 / 100. See clean products and high-rated products for more. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Sonoma Creamery — Mr. Cheese O's, Crunchy Real Cheese Snacks, Cheddar has a Zerotox safety score of 70 / 100. Check the ingredient breakdown above. More Sonoma Creamery products. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
This depends on the ingredient profile. People with sensitive skin or scalp, users avoiding fragrance, sulfates or animal-derived ingredients, and cautious shoppers should review the breakdown above before buying. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.