Buffalo Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Buffalo Cheddar

by Cheez whiz

95
Safe
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Buffalo Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Buffalo Cheddar by Cheez whiz receives a safety score of 95/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient that have been flagged for potential safety concerns by regulatory or consumer advocacy databases. Product label data is sourced from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative database. See the full ingredient breakdown and safety assessment below.

Barcode
0021000055838
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
2 Tbsp (32 g)

What the Data Says About

Buffalo Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Buffalo Cheddar by Cheez whiz carries a composite safety score of 95/100, which we classify as "Safe" on our four-tier shelf-label framework. The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Our scan identified 1 flagged ingredient in this product — components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, Buffalo Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Buffalo Cheddar is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone. The Nutri-Score grade of E reflects nutritional balance — calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium versus fiber, protein, and produce content — which again is a distinct dimension from additive safety and worth weighing alongside the scores above.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Buffalo Cheddar Pasteurized Cheese Snack, Buffalo Cheddar
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 95/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score E OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Whey
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FORMULATION AID, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PROCESSING AID, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
2
Cheddar Cheese
3
Milk
4
Cheese Culture
5
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
6
Enzymes
7
Water
8
Canola Oil
9
Milk Protein Concentrate
10
Whey Protein Concentrate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
11
Sodium Phosphate
12
Cayenne Pepper Sauce
13
Red Peppers
14
Vinegar
15
Garlic
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
16
Maltodextrin
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
17
Calcium Phosphate
18
Lactic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, CURING OR PICKLING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE
Safe GRAS
19
Sodium Citrate
20
Sodium Alginate
21
Mustard Flour
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT, TEXTURIZER
GRAS
22
Worcestershire Sauce
23
Molasses
24
Corn Syrup
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, DRYING AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, LEAVENING AGENT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, TEXTURIZER
Cut Back GRAS
25
Caramel Coloring
Caution Approved (color additive, GRAS)
26
Garlic Powder
27
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
28
Spices
29
Celery
30
Tamarind
31
Natural Flavor
32
Modified Food Starch
33
Sorbic Acid As A Preservative
34
Apocarotenal
35
Color
36
Annatto
Coloring
Certain People Should Avoid

Full Ingredient List

Whey, Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Water, Canola Oil, Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less Than 2% Of Dried Cayenne Pepper Sauce (Red Peppers, Vinegar, Salt, Dried Garlic), Maltodextrin, Calcium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Sodium Alginate, Mustard Flour, Worcestershire Sauce (Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices [Contains Celery], Tamarind, Natural Flavor), Modified Food Starch, Sorbic Acid As A Preservative, Apocarotenal (Color), Annatto (Color), Enzymes, Cheese Culture.

Categories

Dairies Fermented foods Fermented milk products Cheeses

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Related

Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial