The Laughing Cow

Rated at 2/5 green leaves, ‘The Laughing Cow Creamy Garlic & Herb’ cheese fails to meet the standards for cleaner food options. This product does not boast organic ingredients nor does it avoid the use of GMOs, which negatively impacts its rating. The inclusion of citric acid as an added sugar further detracts from its score, while the presence of ‘natural flavor’ raises concerns due to its potential as a harmful additive.

The product features a mix of cheddar, semisoft, and Swiss cheese, combined with whey, milk protein concentrate, and skim milk. This base is modified with sodium polyphosphate and tricalcium phosphate, alongside citric acid, parsley, dehydrated onion, and garlic extract for flavoring. The use of citric acid as an added sugar, despite its commonality as a preservative, counts against the product’s score. Moreover, ‘natural flavor’ as an ingredient is often a catch-all term that may involve a range of unspecified chemical components, which detracts from the product’s claim to cleanliness.

The absence of organic certification and the presence of GMOs contribute to the product’s low score. Organic foods are typically free from synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms, both of which are preferred for a cleaner diet. Consumers seeking out cleaner, more natural foods will find ‘The Laughing Cow Creamy Garlic & Herb’ lacking in these aspects.

This product, therefore, does not align with the values consumers might expect from a food item marketed as clean. Although it may provide the convenience and taste associated with processed cheese spreads, its composition does not adhere to the principles of health-conscious consumers aiming for a diet consisting of organic, non-GMO, and additive-free foods. Thus, ‘The Laughing Cow Creamy Garlic & Herb’ receives a low green leaf rating, reflecting its position far from the ideal of a cleaner food product.