Everyone loves grated parmesan cheese but after recent FDA studies on whats in the delicious condiment, you may want to switch to buying the block.
A Bloomburg Business report detailed the administration’s findings, and while the stuff may taste like parmesan cheese, it turns out it might actually be wood pulp your eating. No, really.
More on the FDA’s findings from Fox 5:
Parmesan sold at places such as Walmart and Whole Foods contain cellulose, which is an anti-clumping additive made of wood pulp. Tests by Bloomberg News found Walmart’s Great Value 100 percent grated parmesan cheese registered 7.8 percent cellulose and Jewel-Osco’s Essential Everyday 100 percent grated parmesan had 8.8 percent.
Those are cellulose levels above what is considered acceptable, which is around 2 to 4 percent. Kraft had 3.8 percent. Bloomgberg Business also said the FDA is investigating Castle Cheese Inc., which makes Market Pantry’s 100 percent grated. It used to be sold at Target stores.
The report stated that parmesan cheese from Whole Foods doesn’t list cellulose as an ingredient, but a subsequent test of the cheese found that it still had a cellulose content of .3 percent. However, the company disputes the finding, and instead said that it was likely a false positive.
Another company under investigation by the FDA is Castle Cheese Inc. Apparently, the company’s president is scheduled to plead guilty later this month to pumping their products full of cellulose and using cheddar cheese, which is cheaper, instead of Romano, which is listed in the ingredients.
To be safe just buy a block of parmesan and grate it yourself. It might be a little more expensive but at least you know what you are eating.