Is Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese Healthy?
by H-E-B
This is a clean organic shredded cheese with minimal ingredients. The organic milk and simple cheese-making process are positives, but the powdered cellulose anti-caking agent slightly reduces the score.
- Pasteurized Organic Milk – beneficial · High-quality organic milk that provides complete proteins, calcium, and vitamins while avoiding synthetic hormones and pesticides.
- Cheese Cultures – beneficial · Beneficial bacteria that ferment milk into cheese, potentially providing probiotic benefits and natural flavor development.
- Sea Salt – safe · Natural salt that enhances flavor and acts as a preservative, contains trace minerals unlike refined table salt.
- Vegetable Enzymes – safe · Plant-based enzymes used to coagulate milk proteins during cheese-making, suitable for vegetarians.
- Powdered Cellulose – controversial · Wood pulp-derived anti-caking agent that prevents cheese shreds from sticking together but adds unnecessary processing.
Organic certification
Minimal ingredient list
No artificial preservatives
Traditional cheese-making process
Good protein source
Contains powdered cellulose anti-caking agent
Processed shredded form
High in saturated fat
Higher sodium content than whole cheese
About This Analysis
This health analysis for Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese was performed by Truelabel, an AI-powered food scanner that grades products from A (excellent) to F (failing) based on ingredient quality. The analysis covers seed oil content, ultra-processed ingredients, preservatives, artificial colors, allergens, and potential health risks including cancer risk, hormonal disruption, and gut irritation scores.
Category: Dairy