Follow Your Heart

Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Follow Your Heart Dairy-free Cream Cheese offers a vegan alternative to traditional cream cheese but falls short on the clean eating scale. The product does not contain organic ingredients, which detracts from its potential health benefits and environmental sustainability.

The presence of added sugars, including organic vegan cane sugar and citric acid, negatively impacts the product’s healthfulness. Furthermore, the use of cane sugar, a more concerning form of added sugar, further diminishes the product’s rating. The inclusion of potentially harmful additives such as natural flavors, xanthan gum, and sodium citrate raises questions about the necessity of these components in what could be a simpler, more natural recipe.

Additionally, the use of expeller-pressed high-oleic safflower oil is a point of contention. While it is a source of unsaturated fat, it is not considered a healthy oil compared to alternatives that could be used in its place. This choice of oil undermines the product’s claim to healthfulness.

The product does avoid the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which is a positive aspect for those seeking non-GMO food options. However, this single positive attribute is overshadowed by the numerous deductions for non-organic ingredients and the inclusion of various additives and sugars.

The Follow Your Heart Dairy-free Cream Cheese is a product that caters to the dairy-free market, yet it does not meet the standards for clean and healthy food as defined by this review. With a significant portion of its ingredients list consisting of items that detract from its healthfulness, this product has considerable room for improvement. By replacing harmful additives with natural alternatives, eliminating added sugars, and opting for organic ingredients, the cream cheese could rise in the green leaf rating and offer a truly healthier option for consumers.