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Monterey jack cheese

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Common questions

Is Monterey jack cheese healthy?

Monterey jack cheese scores 65/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — a fair-to-good score — solid, with tradeoffs. Monterey jack cheese is a processed food with a relatively clean ingredient list, primarily composed of cultured pasteurized milk, which provides essential nutrients like calcium and protein.

How processed is Monterey jack cheese?

Monterey jack cheese is NOVA Group 3: Processed Foods.

Which ingredients drive Monterey jack cheese's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Cultured pasteurized milk counts in its favor; En:e235 is flagged as an ingredient of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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Monterey jack cheese

Joseph Farms
65 Fair

Analysis updated July 2026 · How Scout scores

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At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 1
Harmful ingredients 1
Owned by Joseph Gallo Farms
Category Cheese
Summary

Monterey jack cheese is a processed food with a relatively clean ingredient list, primarily composed of cultured pasteurized milk, which provides essential nutrients like calcium and protein. However, the presence of natamycin as a mold inhibitor and the use of anticaking agents indicate a moderate level of processing. While these additives are generally considered safe, they contribute to the product's processing level, which limits its score.

Key ingredients 6

Cultured pasteurized milk
Good

This ingredient provides high-quality protein and calcium, essential for bone health and muscle function.

See more about Cultured pasteurized milk →
Salt
Neutral

Standard formulation ingredient — neither beneficial nor harmful at typical use.

See more about Salt →
Enzymes
Neutral

Enzymes are used to facilitate cheese production, with no significant health benefits or risks.

See more about Enzymes →
Potato starch and/or corn starch (anticaking agent)
Neutral

These starches prevent clumping and improve texture, with minimal impact on health.

Natamycin (natural mold inhibitor)
Neutral

Natamycin helps prevent mold growth, extending shelf life without harmful effects.

See more about Natamycin (natural mold inhibitor) →
En:e235
Bad

This additive is a synthetic preservative that may cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals.

See more about En:e235 →

Processing

Group 3 · Processed

Processed Foods

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