Is Sargento Ultra Thin Provolone Natural Cheese ultra-processed?

32 g Cow cheeses Sold in the United States

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring

7 ingredients
1 additive
Nutri-Score D

Less processed cow cheeses

Cheddar Cheese Cabot Creamery 4 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Provolone deli-sliced cheese Happy Farms by ALDI 4 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
New York White Cheddar Cheese Emporium Selection 8 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Vintage Cheddar Ivy’s Reserve 1 ingredient · no additives NOVA group 3

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

milk, cheese culture, salt (processing marker), enzymes, natural smoke flavor (ultra-processing marker), natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor (processing marker))

Additives: E235 Natamycin

As written on the pack

PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR, NATAMYCIN (A NATURAL MOLD INHIBITOR).

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

3 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Cheeses Products in the category "Cheeses" are at least group 3.
Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 250 cow cheeses

From least to most processed, this one ranks 210th. 22% of the cow cheeses here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 250 cow cheeses, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0046100002216, last edited 27 June 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of D (from A, best, to E).
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.