HabaneroMayonnaise & Dips#5 of 6 in categoryRating 2/5

Habanero Creamy Cheddar Cheese Dip

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (698mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (6g)
  • Red flag: Contains Potassium Sorbate

Green flags

Nothing stands out in its favour.

Ingredients, decoded

15 listed
  • Water
  • refined soybean oil
  • sugar
  • thickening agent (INS 1422)
  • salt
  • milk solids
  • emulsifying agent (INS 1450)
  • flavour enhancer (INS 627, INS 631)
  • flavouring substances
  • chilli
  • stabilizing agent (INS 415)
  • cheese powder
  • preservatives (INS 202, INS 211)
  • antioxidant (INS 319)
  • sequestrant (INS 385)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

EC4

Nutrition per 100 g
ENutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy324 kcal
Protein3 g
Carbohydrates10.3 g
Total sugars6.3 g
Added sugars5.5 g
Total fat30 g
Saturated fat6 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium698 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

A cheddar dip made of oil, starch and flavour

Habanero Creamy Cheddar Cheese Dip is water, refined soybean oil, sugar, modified starch, salt, milk solids, flavour enhancers (INS 627, 631), flavouring substances, chilli and cheese powder, with two preservatives, TBHQ (INS 319) and a sequestrant.

CleanPlate scores it EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by refined soybean oil, sugar and milk solids), with additives that cost points: TBHQ, flavouring, acetylated distarch adipate and starch sodium octenyl succinate. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (698 mg per 100 g) and saturated fat (6 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • Product name

    “Creamy Cheddar Cheese Dip”

    Partly true

    Cheese powder is listed, but only after chilli and with no percentage; water, oil, sugar and starch come first, and cheddar is not named in the list.

  • Retail listing

    “Rich in protein for everyday energy”

    Be careful

    Protein is 3 g per 100 g, far below the 11 g line FSSAI uses for a high-protein claim.

How EC4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
3 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
324 kcal

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Water
Main fat
refined soybean oil
Sweeteners
sugar
Additives
7
Flagged
Potassium Sorbate, TBHQ

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
5.5 g
Sodium
698 mg
Saturated fat
6 g
Trans fat
0 g

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Water, refined soybean oil, sugar, modified starch (INS 1422), salt, milk solids, emulsifier (INS 1450), flavour enhancers (INS 627, 631), flavouring substances, chilli, stabiliser (INS 415), cheese powder, preservatives (INS 202, 211), antioxidant (INS 319) and sequestrant (INS 385). No percentages are declared.

Per 100 g: 324 kcal, 30 g fat of which 6 g saturated, 6.3 g sugar of which 5.5 g added, 3 g protein, 698 mg sodium. Cheese is emphasised in the name with no percentage, which costs 2 label points (Reg 5(2)(g)). The flavouring is not named as natural or artificial, so it is scored at the stricter level. No fibre or cholesterol line.

Ingredients to watch

  • FatConcern

    30 g per 100 g and 6 g saturated, mostly refined soybean oil.

  • TBHQ and modified starchesWorth watching

    TBHQ costs 3 points, two modified starches 4 and the flavour enhancer 2.

  • SodiumWorth watching

    698 mg per 100 g, about 105 mg in a 15 g serve.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "A cheese dip is mostly cheese"

Water and refined oil lead the list; cheese powder comes after chilli.

Myth: "Dips are lighter than spreads"

At 30 g of fat per 100 g this dip is not a light choice.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Spread thinly

Use a teaspoon or two on a wrap and add salad.

Swap for a curd dip

Hung curd with chilli and a little salt gives a similar dip with far less fat.

Common questions

Is Habanero Creamy Cheddar Cheese Dip healthy?

Habanero Creamy Cheddar Cheese Dip scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (698mg per 100g); High saturated fat (6g); Contains Potassium Sorbate.

What does the EC4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Habanero Creamy Cheddar Cheese Dip should I watch?

preservatives (INS 202, INS 211) (Potassium Sorbate), antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ).

Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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