Sargento Mozzarella String Cheese: 6g Protein per Stick, Labelgrade C+
C+ 66 / 100 — Cleanest of the major US string cheese brands by USDA ingredient list — just pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, and enzymes (no vinegar, no added vitamin A palmitate). 25 g protein per 100 g matches Kraft. Sodium is the structural critique; per-stick (170 mg) it's similar to Kraft (180 mg) — both around the same place. Sodium per 100 g (708 mg) is high but not Babybel-level.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →Note on sodium: USDA’s Branded Foods entry for this product (FDC 1870277) does not include a sodium value. The 170 mg per stick figure above is estimated from manufacturer label data and is consistent with other full-fat mozzarella string cheese products. We’ll verify against a direct label reading on the next refresh.
The short answer
Sargento String Cheese Snacks deliver 6 g of protein and 70 calories per 24 g stick (USDA FDC 1870277) with a 4-ingredient list (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes) — the shortest of any string cheese in our database. About 25 g of protein per 100 g, tied with Kraft for density. The Labelgrade is C+ (66 / 100) — strong on protein density, ingredient simplicity, and zero-sugar; dinged on sodium, which is structural to cheese.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | A- | 88 / 100 | 25 g of protein per 100 g — tied with Kraft and Babybel for the densest portable cheese category |
| Ingredient quality | B+ | 82 / 100 | Four ingredients: pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes. No vinegar, no added vitamin A palmitate — slightly cleaner than Kraft’s 5-ingredient list |
| Sugar load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0 g — perfect |
| Sodium load | F | 30 / 100 | ~170 mg per stick (~708 mg per 100 g) — high. Structural for cheese, similar to Kraft |
| Fiber | F | 30 / 100 | 0 g, expected for cheese |
| Saturated fat load | F | 39 / 100 | 13 g per 100 g — high — eats into the 20 g FDA daily saturated-fat budget quickly |
| Overall | C+ | 66 / 100 | Marginal Labelgrade edge over Kraft String Cheese on ingredient simplicity. If you’re choosing between the two, Sargento has the shorter ingredient list; macros and price are similar |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per stick | Sodium per stick | Calories per stick | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sargento String Cheese (this product) | 6 g | ~170 mg | 70 | 4 |
| Kraft Mozzarella String Cheese | 6 g | 180 mg | 60 | 5 |
| Babybel Mini Original | 5 g | 160 mg | 70 | 3 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (28 g serving) | ~9 g | ~21 mg | ~46 | 1 |
The three major portable cheese brands are nearly identical on per-piece protein delivery. The differences are in ingredient list length (Babybel 3 → Sargento 4 → Kraft 5) and fat content (Kraft’s part-skim leans lighter; Sargento and Babybel are whole-milk style).
Whole-food equivalent
One Sargento String Cheese stick (6 g protein) equals roughly:
- 19 g of cooked chicken breast (about ⅔ oz)
- 1 large egg (6 g)
- 33 g of Fage Total 0% Greek yogurt (about 2 tablespoons)
Scope
This page covers Sargento String Cheese Snacks in the 5 oz / 141.7 g package (UPC 046100007013, USDA FDC 1870277). Sargento also sells a Light Mozzarella String Cheese (lower fat, lower calories, similar protein) and several pack sizes (5 oz, 12 oz, 18 oz, 24-count). Per-stick nutrition is consistent across pack sizes. Always check the actual package label.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
Pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes.
Where to buy
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade score is independent of affiliate relationships. More.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 1 stick (24 g)
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1 stick (24 g)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 70 |
| Protein | 6g |
| Total Fat | 4.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 3g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 170mg |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Calcium | 150mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Sargento String Cheese Snacks (Mozzarella) (5 oz (141.7 g)) · UPC 046100007013. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains animal-derived ingredients
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in Sargento String Cheese?
6 grams of protein per 24 g stick (USDA FDC 1870277). The 5 oz package contains roughly 6 sticks (36 g protein total).
How many calories per stick?
70 calories per stick — slightly higher than Kraft (60 cal) because Sargento's standard line is whole-milk mozzarella; Kraft's mainstream string cheese is part-skim.
What's in Sargento String Cheese?
Four ingredients: pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, and enzymes. That's it — no vinegar (Kraft uses vinegar as a coagulant), no added vitamin A palmitate (Kraft adds it for shelf life).
How does Sargento compare to Kraft String Cheese?
Very close on macros: both deliver 6 g protein per ~24 g stick with similar fat content. Sargento has 4 ingredients (no added vinegar or vitamin A); Kraft has 5. Sodium per stick: Kraft 180 mg, Sargento 170 mg. Protein density per 100 g: tied at 25 g. Pick by ingredient simplicity preference and price.
Is it real cheese?
Yes. Sargento String Cheese is real mozzarella made from cow's milk through traditional fermentation and stretching. The 'stringing' is a mechanical processing step that aligns the casein protein fibers.
Is it keto-friendly?
Yes. 1 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 4.5 g fat, 6 g protein per stick fits all ketogenic protocols.
Does it have whey?
Trace amounts. Mozzarella production drains most of the whey during the curd-forming step, so commercial string cheese contains very little remaining whey protein. The protein is predominantly casein.
Are the enzymes vegetarian?
Sargento doesn't specify 'non-animal' in this USDA entry like Kraft does. Most modern US-made mozzarella uses microbial (non-animal) rennet, but if strict vegetarianism is important, check the current package or contact Sargento directly.
Is it 'high in protein' under FDA rules?
Per stick (6 g) is 12% of the 50 g Daily Value — 'good source of protein.' Two sticks (12 g) qualify for the 'high in protein' claim.