The Laughing Cow

The Laughing Cow Creamy Original earns a rating of 3/5 green leaves on our scale, denoting a mid-range choice for consumers seeking cleaner food options. This product is a blend of cheddar, semisoft, and Swiss cheeses, combined with whey, milk protein concentrate, and a few additives to maintain texture and stability. It is not an organic product, nor does it use non-GMO ingredients, which affects its standing in our rating system.

The cheese components derive from both pasteurized milk and part-skim milk, with cultures, salt, and enzymes included in the traditional cheese-making process. The presence of whey and milk protein concentrate increases the protein content, while skim milk offers a reduced-fat component. However, the addition of sodium polyphosphate and tricalcium phosphate points to the inclusion of emulsifying and anti-caking agents typically found in processed cheeses.

One of the detractors from this product’s score is the inclusion of citric acid. Although commonly used as a preservative and flavor enhancer, it is considered an added sugar in our evaluation criteria, leading to a deduction in the overall score.

The product does not claim to be organic, resulting in a lower score due to the preference for organic products within our scoring system. Similarly, the absence of a non-GMO certification leads to a further reduction in its rating.

The Laughing Cow Creamy Original’s standing reflects a balance between its traditional cheese ingredients and the compromises made in the processing and additive selections. It provides a choice that sits between the higher-rated, cleaner options and those rated lower due to more significant concerns over ingredient quality and sourcing. This cheese offers an option for consumers who are looking for a compromise between health consciousness and convenience without fully committing to the most natural or least processed alternatives available.