Why is Cheez-It Original classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The product includes refined wheat flour, vegetable oils, cheese, and several fortified nutrients, but it also contains additives such as soy lecithin (E322), TBHQ as an antioxidant in the palm oil, and annatto extract for color, which together place it in NOVA group 4.

How does the sugar and salt content in Cheez-It Original affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With zero grams of added sugars, the crackers have a minimal impact on blood glucose levels, making them acceptable for diabetes in moderation; however, the 1.92 g of salt per 100 g is relatively high and can raise blood pressure, so hypertensive individuals should limit intake.

Based on the ingredient list, is Cheez-It Original suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

Cheez-It Original is not vegan because it contains wheat flour, skim milk cheese, and whey protein; it is not gluten‑free due to wheat; its carbohydrate content (56.7 g per 100 g) is too high for a keto diet; and while it may be halal if the dairy is permissible, the presence of cheese cultures and possible animal rennet makes halal status uncertain without certification.

Cheez-It • 12.4oz

Original Baked Snack Crackers

Salty Snacks

Product Insights

Cheez-It Original crackers are a salty snack product marketed in the United States and sold at retailers such as Publix. They belong to the Salty snacks and Appetizers groups, carry a Nutri-Score of D and are classified in NOVA group 4, indicating an ultra-processed formulation. Nutritionally, the crackers provide 10 g of protein and 3.33 g of fiber per 100 g but are high in total fat (26.7 g) and salt (1.92 g), with no added sugars.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

low

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal500 kcal

Fat26.7 g

Saturated Fat5 g

Trans Fat0 g

Monounsaturated Fat2 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average salty-snack cracker, Cheez-It Original contains more total fat (26.7 g vs 23.6 g) and protein (10 g vs 8 g), but less sugar (0 g vs 3.8 g), less salt (1.92 g vs 52.44 g) and slightly lower saturated fat, resulting in a higher energy value of 500 kcal versus the category average of 471 kcal.

Ingredients

enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin b1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin b2 [riboflavin], folic acid), vegetable oil (soybean and palm oil with tbhq for freshness), cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey protein, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, annatto extract color), contains 2% or less of salt, paprika, yeast, paprika extract color, soy lecithin,

84%

35%

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