Is Puff'd White Cheddar Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Cheez-It
This page reviews Puff'd White Cheddar by Cheez-It as a snack. Its current score is 60/100, suggesting that it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.
If you want the short version, start with these flagged ingredients: Vegetable Oil, Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium Inosinate.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
The ingredient analysis reveals several processed components like whey and vegetable oils, which raise quality concerns. Additives like monosodium glutamate and disodium guanylate further indicate a highly processed composition.
Main concern
Vegetable oils, including soybean and canola, are highly processed and raise health 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 cheddar cheese, providing a source of flavor and texture.
- Includes onion and garlic powder, which enhance the overall taste profile.
- Oat fiber is present, contributing to texture and potentially aiding in digestion.
Concerns
- Vegetable oils, including soybean and canola, are highly processed and raise health concerns.
- Monosodium glutamate and disodium guanylate are flavor enhancers that may cause sensitivity in some individuals.
- TBHQ is a synthetic antioxidant that raises concerns about long-term health effects.
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 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 structure and base flavor. Its processing may reduce nutritional value.
Role in formula: base
Original: Degerminated yellow corn meal
-
Is Vegetable Oil safe in this snack?
Bad
Vegetable Oil is used here as base. A blend of soybean, high oleic soybean, canola, and corn oils, this ingredient is highly processed and raises concerns about trans fats and overall health impact.
Role in formula: base
Original: vegetable oil (soybean oil, high oleic soybean oil, canola oil, corn oil, TBHQ)
-
Is Whey safe in this snack?
Medium
Whey is used here as base. Whey is a dairy byproduct that adds protein and flavor but is processed and may not be suitable for those with lactose intolerance.
Role in formula: base
Original: whey
-
Is Cheddar Cheese safe in this snack?
Good
Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Cheddar cheese adds flavor and richness, derived from cultured milk, salt, and enzymes, indicating a more natural component.
Role in formula: base
Original: cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes)
-
Is Salt safe in this snack?
Good
Salt is used here as flavor. Salt enhances flavor and is a common ingredient in snacks, though excessive consumption can raise health concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: salt
-
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 presence indicates processing.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: lactic acid
-
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 its use in food products.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: monosodium glutamate
-
Is Yeast Extract safe in this snack?
Medium
Yeast Extract is used here as flavor. Yeast extract adds umami flavor but is a processed ingredient that may not appeal to all consumers.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: yeast extract
-
Is Onion Powder safe in this snack?
Good
Onion Powder is used here as flavor. Onion powder contributes natural flavor and aroma, enhancing the overall taste profile of the product.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: onion powder
-
Is Oat Fiber safe in this snack?
Good
Oat Fiber is used here as base. Oat fiber adds texture and may aid in digestion, providing a beneficial component to the snack.
Role in formula: base
Original: oat fiber
-
Is Low Fat Cheddar Cheese safe in this snack?
Medium
Low Fat Cheddar Cheese is used here as base. Low fat cheddar cheese is a processed dairy ingredient that reduces fat content but may compromise flavor compared to full-fat options.
Role in formula: base
Original: low fat cheddar cheese (nonfat milk, cultures, salt, enzymes)
-
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
-
Is Disodium Inosinate safe in this snack?
Bad
Disodium Inosinate is used here as flavor. Disodium inosinate is a flavor enhancer that is synthetic and raises concerns about its health implications.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: disodium inosinate
-
Is Disodium Guanylate safe in this snack?
Bad
Disodium Guanylate is used here as flavor. Disodium guanylate is another synthetic flavor enhancer that may cause sensitivity in some individuals, raising quality concerns.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: disodium guanylate
-
Is Garlic Powder safe in this snack?
Good
Garlic Powder is used here as flavor. Garlic powder adds natural flavor and health benefits, enhancing the overall taste profile of the product.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: garlic powder
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this snack?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavor is a vague term that can encompass various ingredients, raising transparency concerns about its source and processing.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: natural flavor
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: 2401362
More from this brand: Cheez-It 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.