Polly O Shredded Parmesan Cheese product image with 60/100 Zerotox safety score

Is Polly O Shredded Parmesan Cheese Safe? Ingredient Analysis

Polly O

Polly O's Polly O Shredded Parmesan Cheese is reviewed here as a dairy. Zerotox gives it 60/100 based on the current ingredient profile, so it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.

The ingredient review below focuses especially on Potassium Sorbate.

60 / 100

Moderate quality

Why score is 60

This shredded parmesan cheese contains potassium sorbate, a synthetic preservative, and cellulose powder, which raises concerns about processing. The presence of these additives indicates a moderate quality composition.

Main concern

Cellulose powder is an anti-caking agent that may indicate processing 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

  • Parmesan cheese is made from pasteurized part-skim milk, providing a dairy source.
  • Contains cheese culture, which contributes to flavor development.
  • Salt is used for flavor enhancement, typical in cheese production.

Concerns

  • Cellulose powder is an anti-caking agent that may indicate processing concerns.
  • Potassium sorbate is a synthetic preservative that raises quality and safety concerns.

Who should avoid this product?

This formula may not suit:

  • people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
  • people avoiding animal-derived ingredients

Ingredients breakdown

Below, each ingredient is described in the context of this dairy, not just listed as a raw label.

  • Is Parmesan Cheese safe in this dairy?

    Good

    Parmesan Cheese is used here as base. Parmesan cheese is a dairy product made from pasteurized part-skim milk, contributing to flavor and texture in this product. Its quality is generally high.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: Parmesan cheese (pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)

    Read the full ingredient profile for Parmesan Cheese

  • Is Cellulose Powder safe in this dairy?

    Medium

    Cellulose Powder is used here as stabilizer. Cellulose powder is added to prevent caking in shredded cheese. While it serves a functional purpose, it raises concerns about the level of processing.

    Role in formula: stabilizer

    Original: cellulose powder to prevent caking

    Read the full ingredient profile for Cellulose Powder

  • Is Potassium Sorbate safe in this dairy?

    Bad

    Potassium Sorbate is used here as preservative. Potassium sorbate is a synthetic preservative used to protect flavor. Its inclusion indicates a reliance on synthetic additives, which may affect overall quality.

    Role in formula: preservative

    Original: potassium sorbate to protect flavor

    Read the full ingredient profile for Potassium Sorbate

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: 3268726

More from this brand: Polly O 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.

Frequently asked questions

Polly O — Polly O Shredded Parmesan Cheese has a Zerotox score of 60 / 100 among dairy products. See the full breakdown above.
Polly O — Polly O Shredded Parmesan Cheese has a Zerotox safety score of 60 / 100. Higher scores mean fewer concerning ingredients. 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.
Based on our data we do not detect fragrance in this product's listed ingredients. Formulations can change; check the label.
This shredded parmesan cheese contains potassium sorbate, a synthetic preservative, and cellulose powder, which raises concerns about processing. The presence of these additives indicates a moderate quality composition. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
This product is flagged for: Cellulose powder is an anti-caking agent that may indicate processing concerns.; Potassium sorbate is a synthetic preservative that raises quality and safety concerns.. See the Concerns and Ingredients sections above.
Our analysis notes: Parmesan cheese is made from pasteurized part-skim milk, providing a dairy source.; Contains cheese culture, which contributes to flavor development.; Salt is used for flavor enhancement, typical in cheese production.. See the Pros section above.
We do not detect parabens in this product's listed ingredients. Always check the label as formulations change.
Check the Ingredients section above. Zerotox flags preservatives, colours and other additives; see the full list.
Our analysis indicates animal-derived ingredients may be present in this product. See the Ingredients section and the label for details.
This product includes positive or neutral ingredients such as: parmesan cheese. See the Ingredients section above.
Browse Polly O products on Zerotox with ingredient analysis and safety scores.