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KROGER, COWPALS, CHEESE DIP & PRETZEL STICKS

KROGER · 0/100 · Not approved

4 not-approved ingredients detected; 3 banned in at least one country

What we flagged

IngredientVerdictWhy
Enriched Wheat Flour Caution Refined flour stripped of bran/germ and fortified with synthetic vitamins to replace lost nutrients.
Vegetable Oil (unspecified) Not approved Generic label almost always refers to a blend of soybean, corn, or canola oil.
Partially Hydrogenated Oil Not approved Source of artificial trans fats; banned from the US food supply (2018) and across the EU (2021).
Canola Oil Not approved Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil".
Corn Oil Not approved Industrial seed oil; refined via heat and solvents from a low-oil source crop.
Maltodextrin Caution Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
Sodium Phosphate Caution Common additive in processed meats and cheeses; high intake linked to kidney stress.
Xanthan Gum Caution Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Natural Flavor Caution Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
Sugar (Refined) Caution Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.

How the score was reached

100 − 50×4 − 10×6 − 5×0 = 0

ReasonPointsDetail
Vegetable Oil (unspecified) -50 Generic label almost always refers to a blend of soybean, corn, or canola oil.
Partially Hydrogenated Oil -50 Source of artificial trans fats; banned from the US food supply (2018) and across the EU (2021).
Canola Oil -50 Bred from rapeseed; refined with hexane and high heat. Sometimes labeled "rapeseed oil".
Corn Oil -50 Industrial seed oil; refined via heat and solvents from a low-oil source crop.
Enriched Wheat Flour -10 Refined flour stripped of bran/germ and fortified with synthetic vitamins to replace lost nutrients.
Maltodextrin -10 Highly processed starch derivative with a glycemic index higher than table sugar.
Sodium Phosphate -10 Common additive in processed meats and cheeses; high intake linked to kidney stress.
Xanthan Gum -10 Microbial fermentation product; well tolerated by most but can cause GI distress in sensitive individuals.
Natural Flavor -10 Regulatory category that allows solvent extraction and undisclosed processing aids. Lack of transparency.
Sugar (Refined) -10 Refined sucrose, typically from sugarcane or sugar beet; minimally processed but a refined sweetener.

Ingredients

Enriched Wheat FlourWheat Flourniacinreduced ironthiamin mononitrateriboflavinfolic acidWatercheddar and other natural cheeseMilkcheese cultureSaltenzymesannatto [for color]WheymilkfatVegetable Oil (unspecified)Partially Hydrogenated OilCanola OilCorn OilMaltodextrinSodium Phosphatecorn syrup solidsLactic Acidsorbic acidpreservativeapo-carotenalfor colorXanthan GumleaveningYeastsodium bicarbonateammonium bicarbonatesodium alginateNatural Flavordistilled monoglyceridesAscorbic Acid (Vitamin C)maltCitric AcidSugar (Refined)

Diets this fits

Pescatarian

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Educational information, not medical or dietary advice. Scores reflect what the label states, checked against our published rules. Labels change — always read the product’s own packaging.