Why is Cheese Balls classified as ultra-processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The snack is made from refined corn meal, multiple vegetable oils, whey, cheese and several flavoring agents, which together place it in NOVA group 4 for ultra‑processed foods; it lists seven food additives: colorants E102 (Yellow 5) and E110 (Yellow 6), acidity regulator E270 (lactic acid), stabilizer E339ii (disodium phosphate), emulsifier E471 (mono‑ and diglycerides), flavor enhancers E627 (disodium guanylate) and E631 (disodium inosinate).

How does the sugar and salt content in Cheese Balls affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

Each serving provides about 2 g of sugar (15 g per 100 g), which can raise blood glucose levels and should be limited for diabetics, while the 0.75 g of salt per serving (2.68 g per 100 g) contributes to sodium intake that may exacerbate hypertension, making the snack unsuitable for strict low‑sugar or low‑salt dietary plans.

Based on the ingredients, is Cheese Balls suitable for vegan, keto, halal, or gluten‑free diets?

The product is not vegan because it contains whey, cheddar cheese and milkfat, and it is not guaranteed halal as it includes dairy without certification; however, it is low in net carbohydrates (about 15 g per 100 g) which can fit a moderate keto approach, and it is explicitly labeled gluten‑free.

Utz • 28 g

Cheese Balls

Salty Snacks

Product Insights

Cheese Balls are a 28-gram puffed snack from Utz that is marketed as gluten-free and positioned as a convenient cheese-flavored appetizer. The product belongs to the salty-snacks group, carries a Nutri-Score of E and is classified in NOVA group 4, reflecting an ultra-processed formulation that delivers 32.1 g of fat, 8.9 g of saturated fat and 2.68 g of salt per 100 g, while providing only 2 g of protein and 2 g of sugar per serving. It contains milk-derived allergens such as whey and cheddar cheese, includes seven listed additives (E102, E110, E270, E339ii, E471, E627, E631) and its high fat, saturated fat and salt levels make it a less healthy choice despite the gluten-free claim.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

moderate

Salt

high

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal536 kcal

Fat32.1 g

Saturated Fat8.9 g

Trans Fat0 g

Cholesterol0 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average puffed salty snack (23.6 g fat, 5.1 g saturated fat, 3.8 g sugar and 52.4 g salt per 100 g), Cheese Balls contain markedly more fat and saturated fat, slightly more sugar, and considerably less salt.

Ingredients

CORN MEAL, VEGETABLE OIL (CONTAINS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWINGS: COTTONSEED, CORN, CANOLA, SUNFLOWER, SAFFLOWER), WHEY, MALTODEXTRIN, CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), MILKFAT, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SALT, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, BUTTERMILK SOLIDS, NATURAL FLAVOR, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, YELLOW #6, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, YELLOW #5, DISODIUM INOSINATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. CONTAINS NO PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED FATS. THIS IS A GLUTEN FREE FOOD.

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