Melted Cheese
Cheese provides calcium, high-quality protein, vitamin A, K2 and B12, but is also high in saturated fat and sodium. Recent meta-analyses suggest cheese consumption is not associated with increased CVD risk and may even have neutral-to-protective associations, attributed to the dairy matrix effect.
What it is
Cheese (or processed cheese product) softened/melted by heat; can refer to natural cheese melted into a dish or to processed cheese sauces.
Texture and flavor in cooked dishes, providing calcium, protein, fat and sodium.
Why it's flagged
- high sodium content
- saturated fat content
- calorically dense
What regulators actually say
"Cheese consumption has neutral to moderate benefits for human health, particularly >=40 g/d, with a moderate quality of evidence for inverse associations with all-cause and CVD mortality."
"The consumption of saturated fat from dairy sources - specifically, cheese - has been associated with a reduced CVD risk."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Cheese is a standardized food (21 CFR 133); processed cheese covered separately
European Union — EFSA
Authorized whole/processed food
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