GoodSwap Get notified
Kroger Mexican Style Blend Cheese
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Mexican cheeses

Kroger Mexican Style Blend Cheese

32 oz

Good out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in saturated fat
  • No synthetic dyes
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 77

Kroger Mexican Style Blend Cheese scores 77 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. Protein 21.4 g / 100 g: A good source of protein. Info
  3. Color added (not named): 21 CFR 101.22(k) requires certified color additives (FD&C dyes and their lakes) to be declared by name. Info

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better cheese

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Mexican Style Blend Cheese

START100

Ingredients

  • Color added (not named)
    Info 21 CFR 101.22(k) requires certified color additives (FD&C dyes and their lakes) to be declared by name. [1][2]
  • Natamycin
    Regulatory Health Canada permits it only in listed foods, such as on the surface of cheese. [3]
subtotal−5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [2]
subtotal−18

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 6 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some saturated fat. Counted at half for this whole-food category. [4]
  • Salt 0.5 g / 100 g
    Strong Contains some salt. [5]
  • Energy 393 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. Counted at half for this whole-food category. [6]
  • Protein 21.4 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [6]
subtotal−0.5
TOTAL 77Good

100 − 23.5 = 76.5 → 77

Can’t score above 79. High in fat and saturated fat (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [7]

GTIN 00011110589132 · 2025-08-06

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy393 kcal
Fat32.1 g
Saturated fat6 g
Carbohydrates3.6 g
Protein21.4 g
Salt0.5 g

Serving: 1 serving (28 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

MONTEREY JACK CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES, COLOR ADDED), QUESO QUESADILLA AND ASADERO CHEESES (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), POTATO STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, DEXTROSE AND CALCIUM SULFATE (ADDED TO PREVENT CAKING), NATAMYCIN (A NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR).

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk

  • Not vegan
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest Mexican cheeses in the US

More from Kroger

Sources

  1. 21 CFR 101.22(k) Declaring color additives in the ingredient list

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “Color additives not subject to certification and not otherwise required by applicable regulations in part 73 of this chapter to be declared by their respective common or usual names may be declared as “Artificial Color,” “Artificial Color Added,” or “Color Added””

    ecfr.gov

  2. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  3. 11. List of Permitted Preservatives (Lists of Permitted Food Additives)

    Health Canada · Oct 20, 2025 · Regulator

    “B.2 Butylated Hydroxyanisole n/a (a) Active dry yeasts (a) Preservative (a) 1,000 ppm n/a”

    canada.ca

  4. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  5. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  6. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  7. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  8. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  9. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org