Skip to content
Me
TheBetterBasket.

Philadelphia alternative without gums: soft cheese with no stabilisers

Published 29 October 2026

Philadelphia Original lists a gum on its ingredients, as a stabiliser. If you want a soft cheese without gums, there are tubs in UK shops that list just milk, or soft cheese and salt.

See all the swaps free - make your free account

This guide shows what is in a tub of Philadelphia, and the soft cheeses we found that skip the gum. We stick to what the label says.

What is in Philadelphia Original?

The UK Philadelphia website lists the ingredients for Philadelphia Original as:

Full Fat Soft Cheese, Salt, Stabiliser (Guar Gum), Acid (Citric acid)

Some tubs on Open Food Facts list locust bean gum (E410) as the stabiliser instead. So the gum may change from tub to tub. Either way, there is a gum.

Why is there gum in cream cheese?

A gum is a thickener. It comes from a plant, like a guar bean or a carob seed. In soft cheese, it helps keep the texture the same from the first spoon to the last. It also stops water from pooling on top.

Gums are allowed in food in the UK. Some people still want to avoid them. That is a personal choice. Our job is to show you what is on the label.

What should I look for on the label?

These words all mean something has been added to thicken the cheese:

  • guar gum (E412)
  • locust bean gum or carob bean gum (E410)
  • xanthan gum (E415)
  • carrageenan (E407)
  • stabiliser or thickener
  • starch, such as potato starch or modified starch

If you see none of these, the tub has no added thickener.

Soft cheese without gums

These tubs list no gums, starch or stabilisers. They also pass our wider rules.

If you like the garlic and herb kind, this one adds only herbs and spices:

See the full list on our cream cheese without gums page.

Quark, ricotta and mascarpone

Not every recipe needs cream cheese. These soft cheeses work in lots of the same places. None of them list a gum.

Quark is thick and mild. It works in dips and cheesecake.

Ricotta is soft and light. It works in pasta, on toast and in bakes.

Mascarpone is rich. It works in desserts and creamy sauces.

Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is lumpier, but you can blend it smooth. Then it spreads like cream cheese.

See more on our cottage cheese without gums page, or every cheese on our cheese page.

Will a soft cheese without gum act the same?

Mostly, yes. On toast or a bagel, you won't notice much. Here is what can be different:

  • A little water may sit on top. Just stir it back in.
  • It can be a bit softer when it is warm.
  • In a baked cheesecake, it may crack more. Bake it low and slow.

Ways to use soft cheese without gum

Here are some easy ideas:

  • Spread it on toast, oatcakes or a bagel.
  • Mix it with chopped herbs and black pepper for a dip.
  • Stir a spoon into pasta at the end to make a quick sauce.
  • Add a little to scrambled eggs just before they are done.
  • Use it in a cheesecake, with quark or mascarpone mixed in.

If you make your own garlic and herb version, you choose what goes in. Fresh garlic, chives and lemon zest all work well.

What about the "light" tubs?

Lighter soft cheese has less fat. Less fat can make the cheese thinner, so some brands add a gum or starch. We found light tubs that list neither. But it is worth checking the label every time.

Recipes that use soft cheese

FAQ

Does Philadelphia have gum in it? Yes. The UK website lists guar gum as a stabiliser in Philadelphia Original. Some tubs list locust bean gum.

What is the best swap for Philadelphia in a cheesecake? A full fat soft cheese with no gum works well. Quark or mascarpone can be mixed in too.

Is locust bean gum the same as carob bean gum? Yes. They are two names for the same thing. Its E number is E410.

Is light soft cheese more likely to have gum? It can be, as less fat can mean a thinner texture. Check the label. We found light tubs with no gum.

Sources

  • Philadelphia UK, Philadelphia Original: https://www.philadelphia.eu/uk/products/philadelphia-original/
  • Open Food Facts, Philadelphia Original 180g: https://world.openfoodfacts.org/product/7622210307460/original-philadelphia
  • Food Standards Agency, Food additives: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-additives

Got a tub in your hand? Take a photo of the label in The Better Basket. It's free, and we'll show you what's in it.

Related lists

Related guides

See all the swaps free - make your free account