Clover

Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Clover Cream Cheese Spread falls short of the cleaner food options many health-conscious consumers are seeking. This product is not organic, which detracts from its overall score as it means the milk and cream used could potentially come from farms that utilize conventional farming practices, which often involve pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Further, the spread is not verified as using non-GMO ingredients. This is a significant consideration for those looking to avoid genetically modified organisms in their diet.

The inclusion of additives like Xanthan Gum also affects the product’s rating negatively. Xanthan Gum is a thickening agent that some may argue is not necessary in a product that could rely on natural thickening processes. Its presence signals a departure from the simplest form of cream cheese, which ideally would contain only the essential ingredients without additional thickeners.

While the product has basic elements like pasteurized milk and cream, whey, cheese culture, and salt, which are typical in cream cheese, the addition of guar gum and carob bean gum further strays from the minimalism preferred in cleaner food products. These gums are often used as stabilizers and thickeners, but their necessity in a cream cheese spread is questionable from a clean eating perspective.

The Clover Cream Cheese Spread does not align with the values of those seeking the purest and most natural ingredients in their foods. For a product to score higher on the green leaf rating, it would need to eliminate non-essential additives, and prioritize organic and non-GMO ingredients, ensuring that the product is as close to nature as possible. The market for clean and wholesome food products is expanding, and items like Clover Cream Cheese Spread have significant room for reformulation to meet the standards of this growing consumer base.