Follow Your Heart

Rated at 2/5 green leaves, the Follow Your Heart Dairy-free Cheddar Finely Shredded falls short in terms of providing a clean food option. This product is not organic, which detracts from its potential health benefits. Though it boasts non-GMO ingredients, other aspects diminish its overall score.

The use of added sugars, including organic vegan cane sugar, and citric acid, counts against the product’s healthfulness. More concerning is the inclusion of cane sugar, which significantly reduces the rating due to its status as a harmful added sugar. The presence of potentially harmful additives also impacts the score negatively. Natural flavors, which are often ambiguous in composition, alongside sodium citrate, glycerin, and corn starch, are considered less than ideal for those seeking purer food choices.

Moreover, the incorporation of expeller-pressed canola oil is a drawback. Despite being expeller-pressed, canola oil is often viewed skeptically by those aiming for a clean diet due to its widespread use and potential health implications.

The product does have some positive attributes, such as being dairy-free and using non-GMO ingredients, which are important for consumers with specific dietary needs and preferences. The colorants used, such as annatto, beta carotene, and paprika extract, are derived from natural sources, which is a preferable choice over synthetic options.

The Follow Your Heart Dairy-free Cheddar Finely Shredded has room for improvement. Achieving a cleaner and healthier profile would involve reformulating to remove the added sugars, eliminating the ambiguous natural flavors, and replacing potentially harmful additives with more benign alternatives. Additionally, switching to organic ingredients would enhance the product’s appeal to health-conscious consumers. This product currently does not meet the high standards set for clean eating, as evidenced by the 2/5 green leaves rating.