Cheeses
Great Value Cottage Cheese Large Curd 4% Milkfat Minimum
24 oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 42
Great Value Cottage Cheese Large Curd 4% Milkfat Minimum scores 42 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Carrageenan: In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better cottage cheese
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2% Milkfat Lowfat Cottage Cheese Large Curd Breakstone's · 16 oz/1 lb/453 g No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 84 out of 100 , 42 points higher -
2% Milkfat Lowfat Cottage Cheese Small Curd Breakstone's · 16 oz No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 86 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Low Fat Cottage Cheese 2% Milkfat Small Curd Knudsen · 119 g No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 81 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
4% Milkfat Classic Cottage Cheese Good Culture · 16 oz Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 95 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
1% Milkfat Cottage Cheese small curd Shoprite Bowl & Basket · 24 oz/680 g No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 84 out of 100 , 42 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Cottage Cheese Large Curd 4% Milkfat Minimum
Ingredients
- Lactose minus 20 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Guar gum minus 2.5 points
- Mono- and diglycerides minus 1.5 points
- Xanthan gum minus 1.5 points
- Locust bean gum minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Saturated fat 2.6 g / 100 g minus 1.5 points
- Salt 1 g / 100 g minus 3 points
- Protein 10.5 g / 100 g plus 2 points
100 − 58 = 42
Can’t score above 79. Contains lactose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 88 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3.5 g |
| Sugars | 3.5 g |
| Added sugars | 0.9 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 10.5 g |
| Salt | 1 g |
Serving: 0.5 cup (113 g)
Ingredients
- SKIM MILK
- MILK
- CREAM
- LACTOSE (high concern)
- SALT
- STABILIZER (GUAR GUM, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, CAROB BEAN GUM) (not recognized)
- CITRIC ACID
- CARBON DIOXIDE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)
- NONFAT DRY MILK
- CHEESE CULTURES
Label text, as published
SKIM MILK, MILK, CREAM, LACTOSE, SALT, STABILIZER (GUAR GUM, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN, CAROB BEAN GUM), CITRIC ACID, CARBON DIOXIDE AND POTASSIUM SORBATE (MAINTAIN FRESHNESS), NONFAT DRY MILK, CHEESE CULTURES.
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 -
Honey Mustard Dressing, Topping & Spread Ken's Steak House · 30 g Not permitted in some countriesDye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processed Score 8 out of 100 Bad -
Sliced Provolone Great Value · 8 oz High in saltHigh in saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Light String Mozzarella Cheese Frigo Cheese Heads · 24 g High in saltHigh in saturated fat Score 79 out of 100 Good
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Purified Drinking Water Great Value · 16.9 fl oz (500 mL) Score 100 out of 100 Excellent -
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Sardines in Water Great Value · 3.75 oz Score 95 out of 100 Excellent
Sources
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Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
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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Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives
“The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”
doi.org
-
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
-
“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
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org