Friendly Farms 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese — OKAY
Munch or Dump rates Friendly Farms 4% Small Curd Cottage Cheese by Friendly Farms OKAY — score 58/90.
A genuinely high-protein cultured-dairy staple built on real skim milk, whey and cream. The catch is a stabilizer stack of three gums plus phosphoric acid, modified corn starch and a preservative that keeps it creamy and shelf-stable, which is why it reads more processed than plain small-batch cottage cheese. Strong protein nutrition balanced against a moderate additive load.
Why this verdict
- Real cultured dairy base delivering roughly 11-12g protein per 100g with low sugar
- Three stacked stabilizer gums (guar, carrageenan, locust bean) plus modified corn starch to prevent whey separation
- Potassium sorbate preservative and phosphoric acid are shelf-stability additives, not craving-engineering
- Genuinely balanced: excellent protein value against a real but non-alarming additive stack
Ingredients (9)
- Cultured Pasteurized Skim Milk (safe) — Real fermented dairy - the protein and probiotic base of the product.
- Whey Protein Concentrate (safe) — Dairy protein used for body and freeze-thaw stability.
- cream (safe) — Real dairy adds richness.
- Modified Corn Starch (moderate) — Thickener/stabilizer that gives the sauce body.
- Potassium Sorbate (moderate) — Preservative for shelf life.
- Guar Gum (moderate) — Used as a firming agent or conditioner; not necessary.
- Carrageenan (moderate) — Seaweed-derived stabilizer; some people report digestive sensitivity.
- Locust Bean Gum (moderate) — Stabilizer, part of the industrial texture stack.
- Phosphoric Acid (caution) — Acidulant giving cola its tang. Erodes tooth enamel and is associated with lower bone density at high soda intake.
Healthier alternatives
- Daisy Cottage Cheese Pure & Natural
- Daisy Cottage Cheese
- Good Culture 2% Low-Fat Classic Cottage Cheese