Cheeses
Velveeta Original Pasteurized Recipe Cheese Product
32 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- High in saturated fat
- Contains seed oils
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 53
Velveeta Original Pasteurized Recipe Cheese Product scores 53 out of 100 (Okay) 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 9 points Salt 3.5 g / 100 g: Very high in salt. Strong
- minus 6 points 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: color (added), industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, modified starch and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better cheese
-
Singles American Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product Hill Country Fare · 12 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 83 out of 100 , 30 points higher -
Organic American Singles Pasteurized Process Cheese Product Horizon Organic · 227 g Less salt · Less saturated fat Score 80 out of 100 , 27 points higher -
Lebni Pasteurized Kefir Cheese Byblos · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · Less salt Score 79 out of 100 , 26 points higher -
Pasteurized process smoke cheese Dutchmark · 7 oz Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 79 out of 100 , 26 points higher -
Smoked Gouda pasteurized processed cheese Dietz & Watson · 7.6 oz/215 g Not ultra-processed · No seed oils Score 79 out of 100 , 26 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Velveeta Original Pasteurized Recipe Cheese Product
Ingredients
- Milk protein concentrate / isolate minus 2.5 points
- Canola oil minus 2.5 points
- Sodium phosphate minus 2.5 points
- Whey protein concentrate / isolate minus 1.5 points
- Modified starch minus 1.5 points
- Maltodextrin minus 1.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 0.5 points
- Sorbic acid minus 0.5 points
- Sodium alginate minus 0.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 5.4 g / 100 g minus 2.5 points
- Salt 3.5 g / 100 g minus 9 points
- Energy 250 kcal / 100 g minus 0.5 points
- Protein 14.3 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 47.5 = 52.5 → 53
Can’t score above 79. High in saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 14.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 5.4 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 10.7 g |
| Sugars | 7.1 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 14.3 g |
| Salt | 3.5 g |
Serving: 1 slice (28 g)
Ingredients
- SKIM MILK
- MILK
- MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- CANOLA OIL
- WHEY
- SODIUM PHOSPHATE
- WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE
- MODIFIED FOOD STARCH
- MALTODEXTRIN
- SALT
- CALCIUM PHOSPHATE
- LACTIC ACID
- SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE
- MILKFAT
- SODIUM ALGINATE
- SODIUM CITRATE
- ENZYMES
- CHEESE CULTURE
- APOCAROTENAL AND ANNATTO (COLOR)
Label text, as published
SKIM MILK, MILK, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CANOLA OIL, WHEY, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, MILKFAT, SODIUM ALGINATE, SODIUM CITRATE, ENZYMES, CHEESE CULTURE, APOCAROTENAL AND ANNATTO (COLOR).
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More cheeses on GoodSwap
-
Light Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges The Laughing Cow · 8 × 19 g Ultra-processedHigh in saltHigh in saturated fat Score 66 out of 100 Good -
Low Fat Cottage Cheese Darigold · 113 g Ultra-processedContains emulsifiers studied for gut effectsMay contain traces of 1,4-dioxane Score 57 out of 100 Okay -
String Cheese Frigo Cheese Heads · 28 g High in saltHigh in saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Cream Cheese Tillamook · 8 oz High in saturated fatNo additives Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Organic String Cheese Organic Valley · 680 g High in saltHigh in saturated fatCertified organic Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Cabot, vermont sharp cheddar Cabot · 8 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 Good
More from Velveeta
Sources
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“replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”
doi.org
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“These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”
doi.org
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EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
efsa.europa.eu
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“By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”
doi.org
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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
-
“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