Cheddar cheese is a very popular cheese in the UK and around the world. It started being made around the 12th century in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England. Given the increased health awareness about ultra processed foods (UPFs), many consumers wonder: Is Cheddar cheese ultra processed?
SHORT ANSWER
Is Cheddar Cheese Ultra Processed? No.
This article looks at what traditional Cheddar cheese is made of, talks about low-fat Cheddar and concerns surrounding it and checks if Cheddar is a type of ultra-processed food.
Contents
Defining Ultra-Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods, as defined by the NOVA food classification system, are foods that are changed a lot from how they start. They usually have added things like artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, and emulsifiers that you wouldn’t use in regular home cooking. Eating too much of these foods can be bad for your health.
The Composition of Cheddar Cheese
Traditional Cheddar cheese uses very simply ingredients:
- Milk: The primary ingredient usually from cows.
- Rennet: This is an enzyme that helps the milk turn into cheese.
- Salt: This makes the cheese taste better and keeps it fresh.
- Cultures: These are special bacteria that help develop the cheese’s taste and texture.
The Process of Making Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar is known for a special way it’s made called “cheddaring.” This involves:
- Curdling: The milk is curdled with rennet.
- Stacking and Turning: The curds are stacked and turned many times to get rid of moisture.
- Aging: The cheese is then aged in a controlled environment from a few months up to several years, which makes the flavour better without using artificial stuff.
So is Cheddar Cheese Ultra Processed?
The ingredients to make cheese are simple and because of this traditional method, regular Cheddar cheese is not considered an ultra-processed food.
Is Low-Fat Cheddar Cheese Ultra Processed?
Low-fat Cheddar is made by reducing the fat that is usually in Cheddar. This can change the flavour and texture:
- Additives: Sometimes things like artificial flavours or extra salt are added to make it taste better.
- Texture Modifiers: Stuff like gelatin or extra emulsifiers might be used to improve the texture.
These additions can make low-fat Cheddar fall into the category of ultra-processed foods (but not always), depending on what exactly is added. It’s important to read the ingredients list to see what’s inside. This way you can make sure it is definitely not ultra processed.
Additives and Cheddar Cheese
Traditional Cheddar does not contain artificial preservatives, colours (beyond possibly natural annatto for consistency), flavour enhancers, or additional emulsifiers:
- Preservatives: Other than natural salt, no preservatives are needed; the aging process itself preserves the cheese.
- Colours: Some Cheddars are coloured with annatto, but it is a natural substance and does not make the cheese ultra-processed.
- Flavour Enhancers/Emulsifiers: Traditional Cheddar’s flavours come from the natural fermentation and aging processes.
Checking the Cheese Label and Certifications
When choosing Cheddar, looking at the label can tell you a lot. If the label lists only milk, rennet, salt, and cultures (and maybe natural annatto for colour), the cheese is generally not ultra-processed. Certifications like Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for West Country Farmhouse Cheddar mean it’s made the traditional way and you can be assured it isn’t UPF.
Conclusion
So to answer the question – is cheddar cheese ultra processed – is simple. Regular Cheddar cheese, made with simple, natural ingredients, is not an ultra-processed food. It’s a good choice if you want to eat fewer processed foods. Remember to always check the label to make sure the Cheddar you buy is made traditionally. If you’re considering low-fat options, watch out for extra ingredients that might make the cheese ultra-processed.
For more burning questions such as is cheddar cheese ultra processed, check out our: Is this food ultra proccessed? section