GoodSwap Get notified
Aldi Garden vegetable with sweet basil semi soft cheese
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Cheeses

Aldi Garden vegetable with sweet basil semi soft cheese

8 g

Good out of 100 Medium confidence
  • High in salt
  • High in saturated fat
Get GoodSwap

Why it scores 68

Aldi Garden vegetable with sweet basil semi soft cheese scores 68 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Processed (NOVA 3): Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. Emerging
  2. Sodium benzoate: Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. Strong
  3. Sodium metabisulfite: Sulfites must be declared above 10 mg/kg in the EU and UK and at 10 ppm or more in the US because some people, especially people with asthma, react to them. Regulatory

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

Garden vegetable with sweet basil semi soft cheese

START100

Ingredients

  • Sodium benzoate
    Strong Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. [1][2][3]
  • Sodium metabisulfite
    Regulatory Sulfites must be declared above 10 mg/kg in the EU and UK and at 10 ppm or more in the US because some people, especially people with asthma, react to them. [4][5][6]
  • Calcium chloride
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [7]
subtotal−17.5

Processing

  • Processed (NOVA 3)
    Emerging Classified NOVA 3: processed with added salt, sugar or oil. [7]
subtotal−8

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Saturated fat 21.4 g / 100 g
    Strong High in saturated fat. Counted at half for this whole-food category. [8]
  • Salt 1.8 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [9]
  • Energy 393 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. Counted at half for this whole-food category. [10]
  • Protein 25 g / 100 g
    Info A good source of protein. [10]
subtotal−6.5
TOTAL 68Good

100 − 32 = 68

Can’t score above 79. High in fat, saturated fat and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]

GTIN 04099100166637 · 2024-03-17

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy393 kcal
Fat32.1 g
Saturated fat21.4 g
Carbohydrates3.6 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0 g
Protein25 g
Salt1.8 g

Serving: 28 g

Ingredients

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

PASTEURIZED MILK, VEGETABLE MIX (RED BELL PEPPERS, GREEN BELL PEPPERS, ONION, CELERY, CARROTS, CUCUMBERS, CAULIFLOWER, WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR SALT, LESS THAN 1/10 OF 1% SODIUM BENZOATE, CALCIUM CHLORIDE, AND SODIUM METABISULFITE), SALT, SWEET BASIL, CHEESE CULTURE, MICROBIAL ENZYMES, AND PARSLEY. CONTAINS: MILK.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Celery, Sulphites

  • Not vegan
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest cheeses in the US

More from Aldi

Sources

  1. Benzene production from decarboxylation of benzoic acid in the presence of ascorbic acid and a transition-metal catalyst

    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · May 1993 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  2. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

    The Lancet · November 2007 · Peer-reviewed

    “Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”

    doi.org

  3. Re-evaluation of benzyl alcohol (E 1519) as food additive (records the 2016 benzoate re-evaluation)

    European Food Safety Authority · Oct 30, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “derived a group ADI of 5 mg/kg bw per day (expressed as benzoic acid) in accordance with the ADI previously derived by SCF and JECFA”

    doi.org

  4. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “ANNEX II SUBSTANCES OR PRODUCTS CAUSING ALLERGIES OR INTOLERANCES 1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  5. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (as it applies in the UK), Annex II: substances or products causing allergies or intolerances

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Law

    “1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats or their hybridised strains, and products thereof”

    legislation.gov.uk

  6. 21 CFR 101.100 Food; exemptions from labeling (sulfiting agents)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Feb 17, 2022 · Law

    ecfr.gov

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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