Is Original Cheese Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Kraft
Original Cheese is a dairy from Kraft. 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 Sodium Phosphate, Modified Food Starch, Maltodextrin.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The composition includes sodium phosphate and sorbic acid, which are synthetic additives that raise quality concerns. While the presence of milk and cheese culture indicates some natural components, the overall mix of ingredients suggests a processed product with moderate safety implications.
Main concern
Sodium phosphate is a synthetic additive that raises concerns about processed ingredients.
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 culture, which contributes beneficial bacteria for flavor development.
- Includes milk as a primary ingredient, indicating a dairy-based product.
- Sodium alginate acts as a stabilizer, helping maintain texture in the cheese.
- Whey protein concentrate adds protein content, enhancing nutritional value.
Concerns
- Sodium phosphate is a synthetic additive that raises concerns about processed ingredients.
- Sorbic acid is a preservative that may be viewed negatively due to its synthetic nature.
- Modified food starch and maltodextrin are processed ingredients that indicate lower quality.
- Contains canola oil, which is often refined and may raise health concerns.
Who should avoid this product?
This dairy 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 dairy so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Skim Milk safe in this dairy?
Good
Skim Milk is used here as base. Skim milk serves as the primary ingredient, providing essential nutrients and a dairy base for the cheese. Its low-fat content contributes to a lighter texture without compromising flavor.
Role in formula: base
Original: skim milk
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Is Milk safe in this dairy?
Good
Milk is used here as base. Milk is a fundamental component that adds creaminess and flavor to the cheese. It is a natural source of calcium and other nutrients, enhancing the product's overall quality.
Role in formula: base
Original: milk
-
Is Canola Oil safe in this dairy?
Medium
Canola Oil is used here as emulsifier. Canola oil is used to improve texture and mouthfeel in the cheese. However, its refined nature raises concerns about the quality of fats used in the product.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: canola oil
-
Is Milk Protein Concentrate safe in this dairy?
Medium
Milk Protein Concentrate is used here as base. Milk protein concentrate adds protein content and helps achieve the desired texture. While it is derived from milk, its processing raises some quality concerns.
Role in formula: base
Original: milk protein concentrate
Read the full ingredient profile for Milk Protein Concentrate
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Is Sodium Phosphate safe in this dairy?
Bad
Sodium Phosphate is used here as stabilizer. Sodium phosphate is a synthetic additive used to improve texture and shelf life. Its presence indicates a processed composition, which may be viewed negatively by some consumers.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: sodium phosphate
-
Is Modified Food Starch safe in this dairy?
Bad
Modified Food Starch is used here as thickener. Modified food starch is a processed ingredient that serves as a thickener. Its inclusion suggests a reliance on additives to achieve desired consistency, raising quality concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: modified food starch
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this dairy?
Bad
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a processed carbohydrate used to enhance texture. Its presence indicates a highly processed product, which may not align with clean eating preferences.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: maltodextrin
-
Is Sorbic Acid safe in this dairy?
Bad
Sorbic Acid is used here as preservative. Sorbic acid is a synthetic preservative that helps extend shelf life. While effective, its synthetic nature raises concerns about the overall quality of the product.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: sorbic acid
-
Is Whey Protein Concentrate safe in this dairy?
Medium
Whey Protein Concentrate is used here as base. Whey protein concentrate adds protein and contributes to the cheese's texture. While beneficial, it is a processed ingredient that may not appeal to all consumers.
Role in formula: base
Original: whey protein concentrate
Read the full ingredient profile for Whey Protein Concentrate
-
Is Milkfat safe in this dairy?
Medium
Milkfat is used here as base. Milkfat contributes to the creaminess and flavor of the cheese. However, its presence in a processed form raises questions about the overall quality of fats used.
Role in formula: base
Original: milkfat
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Is Sodium Alginate safe in this dairy?
Medium
Sodium Alginate is used here as stabilizer. Sodium alginate is a natural thickening agent derived from seaweed. It helps maintain the cheese's texture but is still a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: sodium alginate
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Is Sodium Citrate safe in this dairy?
Medium
Sodium Citrate is used here as emulsifier. Sodium citrate is used to improve the melting properties of cheese. While it aids in texture, it is a processed ingredient that may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: sodium citrate
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Is Enzymes safe in this dairy?
Good
Enzymes is used here as flavor. Enzymes are used in cheese production to aid in curd formation and flavor development. Their natural origin contributes positively to the cheese's quality.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: enzymes
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Is Apocarotenal safe in this dairy?
Bad
Apocarotenal is used here as colorant. Apocarotenal is a synthetic colorant used to enhance the appearance of the cheese. Its synthetic nature raises concerns about the overall quality of the product.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: apocarotenal
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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 achiote tree. While it is a natural ingredient, its use in processed foods may still raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: annatto
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Is Cheese Culture safe in this dairy?
Good
Cheese Culture is used here as natural_extract. Cheese culture is essential for fermentation and flavor development in cheese. Its presence indicates a traditional cheese-making process, contributing positively to quality.
Role in formula: natural_extract
Original: cheese culture
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: 2390304
More from this brand: Kraft 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.