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Yes — Philadelphia is ultra-processed.
The cheese contains stabiliser (guar gum) and acid (citric acid), which are industrial additives characteristic of ultra-processed foods according to NOVA. These additives move the product beyond basic cheese-making ingredients (milk, cultures, salt) into the ultra-processed category.
Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.
Other dairy, eggs & yoghurt Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.
Lurpak Spreadable Slightly Salted
Lurpak
Not UPF
Butterpak Spreadable
Tesco
Not UPF
Our Mature Cheddar
Cathedral City
Not UPF
Burrata
Milbona
Not UPF
Mini Babybel Original
Bel
Not UPF
Yeo Valley Salted Butter
Yeo Valley
Not UPF
Lurpak Spreadable Slightly Salted
Lurpak
Not UPF
British unsalted butter
Aldi,Cowbelle
Not UPF
Soft cheese
Tesco
Not UPF
Full Fat Soft Cheese
Sainsbury's
Not UPF
Yes — Philadelphia by Mondelez International is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The cheese contains stabiliser (guar gum) and acid (citric acid), which are industrial additives characteristic of ultra-processed foods according to NOVA. These additives move the product beyond basic cheese-making ingredients (milk, cultures, salt) into the ultra-processed category.
Nomi flags 2 ingredients in Philadelphia as ultra-processed markers: guar gum, citric acid. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.
Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Soft cheese by Tesco, Full Fat Soft Cheese by Sainsbury's, Cream Cheese by Paysan Breton. See the healthier alternatives above for details.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made with ingredients and additives you wouldn't find in a home kitchen — such as emulsifiers, artificial flavourings, colourings and modified starches. The classification is based on the NOVA system used by researchers and dietitians worldwide.
Scan any barcode — or photograph the ingredients label — with the free Nomi app for iOS and Android. You'll get an instant ultra-processed verdict with every ingredient explained in plain English.
This page was shared from Nomi, the free app that tells you instantly whether any food is ultra-processed.
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Product information comes from public databases and Nomi's own analysis, and may contain errors. Always check the packaging. Ultra-processed classification is based on the NOVA food processing system.
