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Britannia

Britannia The Laughing Cow Cheese Slices

Name: Britannia The Laughing Cow Cheese Slices
Brand: Britannia

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4high proteinhigh calciumfortified vitaminsultra-processedvery high sodiumno added sugarnut-freediabetic-safegluten-freeinfant-safelactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

18 g

Pack

360 g

Ingredients

Barcode

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01 — Ingredient mix

What’s in the box, ranked from most concerning.

Each ingredient gets a tier from our researched dossier. The list sorts worst-first; the donut summarises the distribution. Tap any ingredient for its full dossier.

Caution · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 9 ingredients

Milk Products (Butter, Milk Solids & Rennet Casein)Caution

Emulsifiers (331(iii) & 339(iii))Caution

Cleared 6▾

CheeseCleared

WaterCleared

Acidity Regulator (330)Cleared

Preservatives (200 & 235)Cleared

Iodized SaltCleared

Colours (160a(ii) & 160b(i))Cleared

Unknown 1▾

Vitamins and Mineral*Unknown

02 — Claims audit

Every label claim, fact-checked.

We treat each claim as a question — does what’s inside back it up? Tap a claim for the reasoning.

7/7

claims fully supported

“Rich & Creamy”true

Total fat is 25.5 g/100 g with 16.7 g saturated fat; water is added and butter/cheese are primary ingredients — fat profile fully supports a rich, creamy texture description.

“5 Essentials”true

The label clusters five nutrients — Protein (17.2 g/100 g), Calcium (699.2 mg/100 g), Vitamin A (402.2 µg/100 g), Vitamin D (2.25 µg/100 g), and Vitamin B12 (0.33 µg/100 g) — all confirmed in Extra Information; all five are genuinely present.

“Protein”true

17.2 g protein per 100 g confirmed in nutrition panel; per 18 g serving this is approximately 3.1 g.

“Calcium”true

699.2 mg calcium per 100 g confirmed in Extra Information; a single 18 g slice provides approximately 126 mg calcium.

“Vitamins A, D, B12”true

Extra Information confirms Vitamin A at 402.2 µg/100 g, Vitamin D at 2.25 µg/100 g, and Vitamin B12 at 0.33 µg/100 g; label caveats confirm these are added vitamins.

“Processed Cheese Spread”true

Product description in Extra Information explicitly states 'Processed Cheese Spread — 20 Cheese Slices'; ingredients include emulsifying salts and added water consistent with processed cheese regulation.

“20 Cheese Slices”true

Extra Information confirms servingsPerPack: 20 and netWeightG: 360 with servingSizeG: 18, which is mathematically consistent (20 × 18 = 360 g).

03 — The fuller picture

Read the whole thing if a one-line verdict isn’t enough.

What’s in favour, and what’s working against it

In favour

Good protein source: ~17 g protein per 100 g (~21% of energy)
Excellent calcium content: 699 mg per 100 g
Fortified with Vitamins A, D, and B12
Zero trans fat confirmed
Zero added sugar confirmed by label and nutrition data
Uses natural colours only (vegetable beta-carotene, annatto)

Working against

Extremely high sodium: 1,633 mg/100 g (one slice = ~294 mg)
High saturated fat: 16.7 g/100 g
Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): emulsifiers, preservatives, and colour additives present
Contains two preservatives (sorbic acid E200, natamycin E235)
Emulsifying salts include phosphate additive (E339iii) — EFSA flags excess phosphate intake for children
High cholesterol content: 62.1 mg/100 g

Who should approach with care

Hypertension — Each 18 g slice delivers ~294 mg sodium (15% of the WHO daily limit) from iodized salt, trisodium citrate (E331iii), and inherent cheese sodium; regular consumption of multiple slices can meaningfully elevate daily sodium intake above safe thresholds for sodium-sensitive individuals.

Kidney Disease — This product is simultaneously high in sodium (1,633 mg/100 g), phosphorus (535 mg/100 g via E339iii and natural dairy phosphate), and protein (rennet casein, milk solids) — all nutrients that require strict restriction in chronic kidney disease to prevent hyperphosphatemia, fluid overload, and accelerated disease progression; EFSA's group ADI for phosphate additives explicitly does not apply to those with moderate-to-severe CKD.

Heart Disease — High saturated fat (16.7 g/100 g) raises LDL cholesterol, the high sodium load worsens vascular risk, and E339iii (potassium phosphate) is linked to vascular calcification at elevated serum phosphate — all three converge to make this product one to limit in patients with established cardiovascular disease per AHA and WHO dietary guidelines.

Pregnancy — Although this is a pasteurised processed cheese (reducing Listeria risk compared to soft/raw-milk cheeses), the very high sodium content and moderately elevated Vitamin A from fortification warrant moderation; pregnant women should also not exceed total daily iodine of 250 µg (WHO) while consuming iodized-salt-containing products regularly.

Infants — The combination of very high sodium, phosphate additives (E339iii) that EFSA flags as exceeding the ADI even at mean infant intake levels, natamycin (E235) with limited developmental safety data, and annatto (E160b) with norbixin ADI exceedances at high exposure in toddlers makes this product unsuitable for infants and young children.

Children — EFSA (2019) found that dietary phosphate exposure from additives like E339iii exceeds the group ADI at mean intake levels for toddlers and children; norbixin from annatto (E160b) can also exceed its ADI at the 95th percentile in this age group, and the high sodium content is above child-appropriate levels.

Lactose Intolerance — Cheese, butter, milk solids, and rennet casein are all dairy-derived ingredients — while processed hard-style cheeses have lower residual lactose than fresh cheese, the multiple lactose-bearing dairy fractions in this product may collectively trigger symptoms in sensitive lactose-intolerant individuals.

Diabetes — Butter's high saturated fat content is linked in meta-analyses to modest increased type 2 diabetes risk and can complicate weight and glycaemic management; the overall high caloric density (315 kcal/100 g) from saturated fat warrants portion awareness for people with diabetes.

Thyroid Disease — Iodized salt contributes additional dietary iodine; both excess and insufficient iodine can worsen hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or other thyroid conditions, and individuals with thyroid disease should seek physician guidance on total iodine intake from all sources including this product.

Migraine — The cheese fraction — including aged and fermented cheese components — is a recognized tyramine source; tyramine is a well-documented migraine trigger in susceptible individuals and processed cheese products may concentrate this biogenic amine.

Ibs — Manufactured citric acid (E330) has been linked in case reports to gastrointestinal inflammatory symptoms in susceptible individuals, and the high dairy-fat and sodium content may also aggravate IBS symptoms.

Phenylketonuria — Milk solids and rennet casein provide phenylalanine-rich proteins (casein and whey); individuals with PKU must carefully account for the phenylalanine contribution from these high-protein dairy ingredients within their strictly controlled low-phenylalanine diet.

The full analysis

This product is bought by households looking for a convenient, ready-to-use cheese slice for sandwiches, toasts, and snacks for children and adults alike. While it delivers meaningful protein (~17 g/100 g), well-documented calcium (699 mg/100 g), and genuine vitamin fortification, the single most important number a consumer should note is its sodium content: 1,633 mg per 100 g, meaning a single 18 g slice contributes roughly 294 mg sodium — about 15% of the WHO-recommended daily adult limit — before any other salty food is eaten that day. The product is also ultra-processed (NOVA 4), containing emulsifying salts, two preservatives, and two added food colours, and its saturated fat load (16.7 g/100 g) is high enough to warrant moderation for anyone managing cardiovascular risk.

FSSAI licence

10014031001210

Manufacturer

Britannia Industries Ltd.

Region

Source

MANUAL

Analysis

Independently researched