Pasteurized Processed Cheese

Pasteurized Processed Cheese carries a safety score of 3/5 and appears in 30 indexed US food products.

Safety score 60.0%

3/5 from FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine

How common is vs other flagged additives?

Number of indexed products containing each of the most common flagged additives — Pasteurized Processed Cheese highlighted.

Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Caramel Coloring22612Red 4021595Yellow 518987Carrageenan17853Blue 116643Yellow 613560Sucralose10490Pasteurized Processed Cheese30
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
Safety Score
3/5

Safety Assessment

Pasteurized Processed Cheese has a moderate safety profile (3/5). While approved for use, some studies or consumer advocacy groups have raised questions about certain aspects of this ingredient. Consumers who prefer caution may wish to limit intake.

What the Data Says About

Pasteurized Processed Cheese currently appears in 30 products across the OpenFoodFacts catalog we index, which gives a concrete measure of its footprint on US grocery shelves. Our internal safety score of 3/5 synthesizes FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Chemical Cuisine classification. These two frameworks capture different questions: regulators ask whether exposure at typical intake is acceptable, while consumer-advocacy groups examine cumulative dietary load and vulnerable-population risk.

Pasteurized Processed Cheese serves one or more technical functions in food manufacturing — stabilization, flavor, preservation, or structural role — which explains its presence across multiple product categories in our database. Inspection and outbreak records frequently trace back to control failures around functional additives, whether through batch contamination, undisclosed substitutions, or labeling mismatches that trigger recall classifications by the FDA.

No specific concern flags are attached to Pasteurized Processed Cheese in our current data snapshot beyond the regulatory and CSPI classifications above. That does not rule out individual sensitivity reactions, and anyone managing allergies, elimination diets, or chronic conditions should verify with a qualified healthcare professional before relying on population-level ratings.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Regulatory and safety classifications for Pasteurized Processed Cheese
Source Classification Year
FDA SAFFA Not listed 2024
CSPI Chemical Cuisine Not rated 2024
PlainFoodSafe Score 3/5 2026
Product footprint 30 products OpenFoodFacts

FDA SAFFA database, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings, OpenFoodFacts product index. See methodology.

Products Containing

Showing 30 of 30 products

BANQUET Homestyle Bakes Cheeseburger Mac
Unknown
50/100
Bratwurst
Unknown
70/100
Bratwurst With Cheddar Cheese
Cub Foods
100/100
Cheese Curds
Unknown
85/100
Cheese frankfurters
Unknown
85/100
Cheese smoked sausage
Unknown
85/100
Cheese Wieners
Juniata
85/100
CHEF BOYARDEE Chicken Bacon Cheddar Pasta, 7.25 OZ
Unknown
100/100
CHEF BOYARDEE Chicken Buffalo Cheddar Pasta, 7.25 OZ
Unknown
100/100
CHEF BOYARDEE Microwave Pasta In Tomato Sauce With Meatballs Super Hero, 7.5 OZ
Unknown
95/100
Chef boyardee pasta shapes in tomato sauce with meatballs, 15 oz
Unknown
95/100
DIP
Unknown
100/100
Fresh Bratwurst
Cub Foods
100/100
Jalapeno & cheddar gourmet bratwurst
Unknown
70/100
Jalapeno Cheddar Kolaches Sausage Rolls, Jalapeno Cheddar
Double b foods
85/100
Jalapeno chicken sausage with pepper jack cheese
Unknown
100/100
Kroger, smoked cheddar bratwurst, smoked sausage with cheddar cheese
Kroger
85/100
Lasagna
Sam's Choice
100/100
Macaroni & cheese
Unknown
100/100
Mexican-Style Lasagna
Great Value
100/100
Mini ABC's & 123's with meatballs
Chef Boyardee
95/100
Minibites abcs s pasta with meatballs
Unknown
95/100
Pasta shapes in tomato sauce
Unknown
100/100
Pasta shapes in tomato sauce
Unknown
100/100
Pickle & cheddar gourmet bratwurst
Unknown
65/100
Restaurant style mac 'n cheese bites
Unknown
100/100
Ring bologna with cheese
Unknown
85/100
Smoked sausage with cheese & jalapenos
Owens, Owens Foods Inc.
85/100
Smoked sausage with cheese & jalapenos
Owens Foods Inc.
85/100
Smoked sausage with cheese baked in dough kolaches
Owens, Owens Foods Inc.
85/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pasteurized Processed Cheese safe to eat?

Pasteurized Processed Cheese has a safety score of 3/5. Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.

What products contain Pasteurized Processed Cheese?

Pasteurized Processed Cheese is found in 30 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.

What does Pasteurized Processed Cheese do in food?

Pasteurized Processed Cheese serves various technical functions in food manufacturing and processing.

Where does this ingredient safety data come from?

Safety data comes from the FDA's SAFFA (Substances Added to Food) database, CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ratings, and the OpenFoodFacts product database. Product counts reflect items cataloged in OpenFoodFacts.