Higher-scoring pick on this shelf: Organic Valley Organic Grassmilk Raw Cheddar Cheese, Block (100/100)
The recorded US ingredient statement lists carrageenan and artificial preservatives (2 of the 9 additive groups we check). Confirm the exact formula on your package.
Label checked 2026-10-20. USDA FoodData Central · How we verify labels and scores
Label review by CleanFoodScore Research Team.
Label on your package different? Tell us.
How scoring works
The clean score reads only the ingredient label. Up to 60 points come from the 9 additive groups we check: each group not on the label earns its share, and a group named only in a "may contain" note earns half. Up to 25 points come from an organic claim we have confirmed. Up to 15 points come from a confirmed grass-fed or pasture-raised claim. Points that do not apply to this kind of food are left out and the rest is scaled to 100.
This product: 7 of 9 groups not on the label. No confirmed organic claim. No confirmed grass-fed or pasture-raised claim.
It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
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Your ingredient check
0 of your 4 avoided groups are listed on this label. The clean score counts all 9 groups we check; this label lists 2.
Additive Check Details
This checks your selected additives in the available ingredient text. It is not a nutrition or safety rating.
Ingredients
Walnut Creek Foods 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese
Label checked2026-10-20 · US
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Copied word for word from the labelUSDA FoodData Central
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Higher-scoring picks on this shelf
Organic ValleyOrganic Grassmilk Raw Cheddar Cheese, Block
Organic ValleyOrganic Grassmilk Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese, BlockLabel data source
Ingredients and nutrition come from USDA FoodData Central, Branded Foods (FDC ID 2478532, data date 2023-02-16, release 2026-04-30). These are brand-submitted label records in the public domain (CC0); retrieved 2026-10-20. Check the package for the current label.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per serving (113 g, 1/2 cup) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 97 kcal | 110 kcal |
| Total fat | 4.4 g | 5 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.7 g | 3 g |
| Sodium | 425 mg | 480 mg |
| Total carbohydrate | 4.4 g | 5 g |
| Dietary fiber | 0 g | 0 g |
| Total sugars | 3.5 g | 4 g |
| Added sugars | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sugar alcohols | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protein | 10.6 g | 12 g |
| Net carbs (carbs − fiber) | 4.4 g | 5 g |
Our research notes
What to know before you choose this cheese
The recorded ingredient label lists 18 ingredients, led by cultured nonfat milk, milk cream and salt. Worth noting: it lists natural flavors, carrageenan and artificial preservatives. For this cheese, the comparison that matters most is style and use: compare block, shredded, soft and processed cheeses for the way you plan to use them.
- Worth checkingLong ingredient list: 18 ingredients, so read the full statement.
- Worth checkingLists carrageenan (carrageenan).
- Worth checkingLists artificial preservatives (potassium sorbate (to help preserve freshness)).
- Worth checkingLists natural flavors; the specific flavoring ingredients are not disclosed.
- Good to knowContains thickeners or stabilizers: guar and locust bean.
- Good to knowIngredient and allergen statements mention milk. Always confirm the full allergen statement on the package.
You may prefer another option if…
- You avoid carrageenan: the recorded label lists carrageenan.
- You avoid artificial preservatives: the recorded label lists potassium sorbate (to help preserve freshness).
- You want every flavoring ingredient disclosed: natural flavors are not itemized.
- You prefer to avoid thickeners and gums: it lists guar and locust bean.
Compare this against other cheese
- Style and use. Compare block, shredded, soft and processed cheeses for the way you plan to use them.
- Portion and sodium. Use equal weights when comparing nutrition.
- Recipe additions. Check starches, anti-caking ingredients and emulsifying salts in the exact format.
Keep reading
- Carrageenan on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Artificial Preservatives on food labels: names, which foods have it and what to buy instead
- Compare every label we have recorded on the cheese shelf
- Browse the cheese shelf
References
- Walnut Creek Foods 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese: brand-submitted label record (FDC ID 2478532) USDA FoodData Central
- 21 CFR Part 133: cheeses and related cheese products Code of Federal Regulations
- Raw milk misconceptions and the danger of raw milk consumption U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Dairy Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
These notes summarize the linked ingredient record and public references. Records may come from manufacturer pages or USDA FoodData Central brand-submitted labels. They are not medical advice or a nutrition, allergy or safety rating, and the maker’s claims are not independently verified here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Walnut Creek Foods 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese contain seed oils?
No listed matches for seed oils were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
Does Walnut Creek Foods 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese contain artificial dyes or MSG?
No listed matches for artificial dyes or MSG were found in the current recorded statement. Confirm the formula against your package; this is not an allergy or safety assessment.
What is the verification standard for this product?
The complete ingredient statement was recorded from the linked product-specific source on 2026-10-20. Evidence expires after 90 days and requires a new source review; viewing this page does not renew it.
What are the ingredients in Walnut Creek Foods 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese?
The recorded ingredient statement reads: CULTURED NONFAT MILK, MILK CREAM, SALT,WHEY,NONFAT DRY MILK, FOOD STARCH (CORN), POTASSIUM SORBATE (TO HELP PRESERVE FRESHNESS), GUAR GUM, CITRIC ACID, CARRAGEENAN, LOCUST BEAN GUM, LACTIC ACID, PHOSPHORIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVOR, SODIUM PHOSPHATE (TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE), LECITHIN, MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, AND ENZYMES
Is Walnut Creek Foods 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese healthy?
Its recorded label lists carrageenan and artificial preservatives (2 of the 9 additive groups we check). Its clean score is 47 out of 100. That is a label check, not a nutrition rating: sugar, sodium, calories and portion size are separate questions.
Same shelf. Different labels.
What else could go in your basket?
See the full table: Cheese ranked by clean scoreCheese options · US labels. Sorted by clean score, the same label-based score as the shelf ranking table; each card names the additive groups its label lists out of the 9 we check. Neither is a nutrition or quality rating. Different formats and flavors can have different recipes.
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Prices are dated observations for the stated package, exclude tax and shipping, and expire after 30 days. Ingredient evidence expires after 90 days. Unknown evidence is never ranked as fewer matches.
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