Grated cheese
Trader Joe's Finely Shredded Lite Mexican Style Cheese Blend
12 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 75
Trader Joe's Finely Shredded Lite Mexican Style Cheese Blend scores 75 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 5 points Salt 1.5 g / 100 g: High in salt. Strong
- plus 4 points Protein 28.6 g / 100 g: A good source of protein. Info
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better cheese
-
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese Great Value · 6 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 90 out of 100 , 15 points higher -
4 Cheese Mexican Sargento · 1 lb Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 92 out of 100 , 17 points higher -
Mozzarella Shredded Fat Free Mozzarella Cheese Kraft Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 92 out of 100 , 17 points higher -
Fancy shredded Swiss natural cheese by SE grocers Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 98 out of 100 , 23 points higher -
MOZZARELLA shredded cheese Happy Farms · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 87 out of 100 , 12 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Finely Shredded Lite Mexican Style Cheese Blend
Ingredients
- Natamycin minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 8.9 g / 100 g minus 3.5 points
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 286 kcal / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Protein 28.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 25.5 = 74.5 → 75
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [6]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 286 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 14.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 8.9 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7.1 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 28.6 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 28g
Ingredients
- REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, ANNATTO EXTRACT [COLOR], VITAMIN A PALMITATE)
- REDUCED FAT MONTEREY JACK CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, VITAMIN A PALMITATE)
- REDUCED FAT ASADERO CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, VITAMIN A PALMITATE)
- REDUCED FAT QUESO QUESADILLA CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, VITAMIN A PALMITATE)
- ANTI-CAKING AGENT (POTATO STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, NATAMYCIN [MOLD INHIBITOR]) (not recognized)
Label text, as published
REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, ANNATTO EXTRACT [COLOR], VITAMIN A PALMITATE), REDUCED FAT MONTEREY JACK CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, VITAMIN A PALMITATE), REDUCED FAT ASADERO CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, VITAMIN A PALMITATE), REDUCED FAT QUESO QUESADILLA CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, VITAMIN A PALMITATE), ANTI-CAKING AGENT (POTATO STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, NATAMYCIN [MOLD INHIBITOR])
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More grated cheese on GoodSwap
-
Shredded Mexican-Style Blend Cheese Kirkland Signature · 1130 g High in saturated fatNo synthetic dyes Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Parmesan & Romano Cheese Kraft · 227 g Score 87 out of 100 Excellent -
Mexican Style a blend of cheddar, monterey jack, asadero & quesadilla finely shredded cheeses Happy Farms by ALDI · 340 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fatNo synthetic dyes Score 73 out of 100 Good -
Grated parmesan cheese Kraft · 16 oz Score 87 out of 100 Excellent -
Sharp Cheddar Farmstyle Shreds Tillamook · 8 oz Ultra-processedHigh in saturated fatNo synthetic dyes Score 76 out of 100 Good -
Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese Trader Joe's · 16 oz High in saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 Good
More from Trader Joe's
-
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread Trader Joe's · 24 oz Score 86 out of 100 Excellent -
Vanilla Almond Granola Trader Joe's · 16 oz Score 22 out of 100 Poor -
Traditional Tunisian Harissa Hot Chili Pepper Paste with Herbs & Spices Trader Joe's · 190 g Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Basil Pesto Sauce Trader Joe's Score 44 out of 100 Okay
Sources
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11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)
“B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”
canada.ca
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Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
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“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
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Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
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“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
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“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org